Top seed Danil Medvedev edged past Jan Lennard Struff 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in a hard-fought match to reach the second round at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.
Medvedev saved all four break points he faced. The 2023 Dubai champion improved his head-to-head series to 8-1 against Struff.
Medvedev broke serve at deuce in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Struff saved three break points to hold serve for 2-3 in the fifth game. Medvedev served out the first set 6-4 at deuce in the 10th game after saving three break points.
Struff saved three break points in a seven-deuce first game of the second set and two more chances in the fifth game. Both players held on their next service games en route to the tie-break. Medvedev earned three mini-breaks to race out to a 6-1 lead. Struff saved three match points but Medvedev closed out the tie-break 7-4 on his fourth opportunity.
“I think Jan’s biggest weapon is the serve, and somehow I managed to read. It just happens. Even with me, I’m serving quite well and there are some players who I cannot make an ace against. I’m happy with my level, because he is still a strong opponent, and I’m happy to be in the second round. The flu in Doha was not the best ending to the tournament, but I hope to try and get what I have been building since the start of the season here in Dubai or later. It was a good start”, said Medvedev.
Medvedev set up a second round match against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetchu Perricard.
Matteo Berrettini beat Gael Monfils 7-5 6-4 in 83 minutes. Berrettini has continued his good period of form after beating Novak Djokovic in Doha last week.
Berrettini earned his first break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead after a forehand error from Monfils. The Italian player faced three break points at 0-40 down in the eighth game after a smash error and a double fault. He saved the first two break points, but Monfils converted his third break-back point with a backhand passing shot winner to draw level to 4-4. Berrettini broke for the second time at deuce to take a 5-4 lead, but Monfils broke straight back to draw level to 5-5. Berrettini broke again in the 11th game with a forehand winner and served out the first set 7-5 with a hold at 15.
Both players went on serve until te seventh game. Berrettini converted the first of his two break points to take a 4-3 lead with a forehand. The Italian player held on his next two service games and served out the win on his first match point.
“It was a great tournament, great matches, great fights. It gave me a lot of confidence coming here. It’s been a long time since I played here. I’m feeling the energy and hopefully it’s going to be a long week., said Berrettini.
Berrettini set up a match against Christopher O’Connell, who advanced to the next round after Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire from the match after losing the first match 6-0.
Quentin Halys came back from oneset down to beat last week Doha champion Andrey Rublev 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) after 2 hours and 12 minutes.
Rublev broke serve in the eighth game to win the first set 6-3. Halys earned a break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Monfils broke straight back in the next game and held serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Halys broke for the second time to win the second set 6-4 drawing level to one set apiece.
Rublev earned a chance to break at 5-5 40-0 in the 11th game, but Halys saved five break points before earning a mini-break to take a 2-1 lead in the tie-break. Halys earned a 6-3 lead. Rublev saved two match point but Halys closed out the tie-break on his third opportunity to win his first ATP 500 match.
“I’m so happy, even though I’m not so smiley now. The match was so tough. At 5-5, I was 0/40 and almost broken. What a victory. I played really well today. At the beginning I was a bit nervous, but at the end I was pretty calm. The key was to serve well, be aggressive and make amazing shots. Every time you play a 500, you’re playing an amazing guy. I lost many times, but today is the best victory of my career. I enjoy playing here, the conditions suit my game”, said Halys.
