Andrey Rublev started his 2020 ATP season with a 6-4 6-2 win over Mikhail Kukushkin in the second round at the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open.
Rublev, who reached the final in Doha in 2018, converted on four of his nine break points and was broken once. Rublev converted his fourth break point at deuce to take a 3-2 lead. Kukushkin broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Rublev earned his second break at 15 in the ninth game to clinch the first set 6-4. The young Russian player broke twice in a row in the third and fifth games to win the second set 6-2.
Rublev reached a career-high of world number 22 and earned a nomination for the ATP Comeback Player of the Year. He won the hometown tournament in Mosco and reached the final in Hamburg.
“I am really happy that I could win in straight sets. Both of us were not really feeling the ball as normally we can feel, so it was more about mental. It was the first match of the season. I was a little bit nervous, but in the end I am happy that I accepted this and I focused more on the things for how I can with the game that I have today. I am happy with the performance”, said Rublev.
Rublev will face Pierre Hugues Herbert, who cruised past number 5 seed Laslo Djere.
Serbian Next Gen player Miomir Kecmanovic edged Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (11-9) 6-1. Tsonga did not convert three set points in the tie-break of the first set. Kecmanovic reeled off five consecutive games from 1-1 to win the second set 6-1. Kecmanovic will face Marton Fucsovics, who cruised past Turkish wild card Cern Ilkel.
“It was definitely one of my better wins. I have had some exciting wins last year. To start the year off with such a big name, it’s definitely motivating me and giving me a lot more confidence to keep going”,said Kecmanovic.
Fernando Verdasco edged Filip Krajinovic 7-5 4-6 6-0. Verdasco sealed the first set 7-5 with his only break in the 12th game. Krajnovic saved a total of seven break points before breaking serve in the ninth game to win the second set 6-4. The Serbian player broke three times in a row to cruise through to a bagel win in third set.
Verdasco set up a match against French Next Gen player Corentin Moutet, who battled past Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4). The first set went on serve en route to the tie-break, where Moutet got two mini-breaks to edge Raonic 7-4. Raonic broke serve at deuce in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. Raonic broke straight back at love forcing the match to the tie-break. Raonic took a 4-3 lead but Moutet won four consecutive points to take the tie-break 7-4.
