Andrey Rublev beat last year’s Wimbledon quarter finalist Christopher Eubanks 6-4 6-4 6-4 to cruise into the second round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Rublev earned an early break in the first game of the opening set. Eubanks did not convert his three break points in the fifth game. Rublev held on his next service games and closed out the first set on his second set point.
Rublev converted his second break point in the the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The Russian player served out the second set with a hold at love.
Eubanks saved three break points in the third game of the third set to hold serve for 2-1. Rublev broke serve at 15 in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Eubanks saved two match points for 4-5 as he was serving to stay in the match. Rublev served out the win on his first match point.
Rublev set up a quarter final against Sebastian Korda, who beat Frenchman Quentin Halyls 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Ben Shelton beat Christopher O’Connell 6-4 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-5) Shelton won 83% of his first serve points and dropped just two points on his first serve. The US player broke serve in the 10th game to seal the first set 6-4.
Shelton broke twice in the fourth and sixth games to race out to a 5-1 lead and sealed the second set 6-1 on his fourth set point.
O’Connell saved two break points in the third game of the third set before breaking serve in the sixth game to win the third set 6-3.
O’Connell saved two break points in the fourth game of the fourth set. The Australian player earned a break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. O’Connell saved two match points in the 12th game. Shelton earned a 5-2 lead in the tie-break with three mini-breaks and earned three match points at 6-3. O’Connell saved the first two match points to reduce the gap to 5-6 but Shelton sealed the win on his third chance. Shelton hit 17 aces.
“It was a tough one against a guy who definitely had the home crowd support. I was trying to come forward a little bit more and work on serving and volleying. He made it tough. He was passing really and moving really well. He has been playing well the second half of last season. I have seen him winning so many matches. He is a tough guy”, said Shelton.