No. 2 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia fell behind 5-2 in the opening set before storming back for a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday in the United Arab Emirates.
Krajinovic broke Rublev’s serve in his first service game to help build the early advantage, but Rublev won the final five games of the set before cruising in the second, winning 26 of 29 first-service points (89.7 percent) and converting four of six break-point opportunities.
No. 7 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany rallied to beat Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia, Lorenzo Sonego of Italy and Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov also won their opening matches.
Movistar Chile Open
Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo upset No. 7 seed and fellow countryman Pedro Cachin 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round in Santiago.
Cerundolo coped with Cachin’s nine aces by winning 39 of his 46 first-service points (84.8 percent).
Defending champion Pedro Martinez of Spain also bowed out early, as German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann handled business in their match 6-2, 6-0.
The late match pitted Alejandro Tabilo of Chile against Spaniard Jaume Munar for the right to face top-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the second round.
–Field Level Media