Marton Fucsovics is into the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Open after beating Vasek Pospisil in three sets 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Fucsovics, who recently reached the final of the Rotterdam Open, hit 30 winners in the match while his Canadian opponent produced 15 unforced errors. He is making his third appearance in Dubai with his best run being to the quarter-finals back in 2019.
” I was just focusing on the next point, trying to come back in the second set,” the world No44 said following his win. “He (Pospisil) had a 4-1 lead, break up and I was just focusing on trying to win the next point, put as many balls as possible in the court. I tried to serve well.
“I didn’t play my best tennis today I’m a little bit tired after a lot of matches but I’m happy to win,” he added.
Pospisil started the match really strong and at 2-1 off three straight unforced errors from the world number 44 he would break as the Hungarian would hit a fourth consecutive error to give the first break of the match.
At 4-2, the Budapest resident tried to get back into the set, and of a slow service game from the Freeport, Bahamas resident had six chances to break but failed to convert in a crucial service game. The world number 65 would serve out the set to take it 6-2.
The beginning of the second set was identical to the first with the first break points of the set coming at 2-1 but it would take three for the Canadian to break once more and jump out to a 3-1 lead.
At 4-2 once again Fucsovics was determined to stay in the match and rattled off three break points. Managing to break back winning a long intense rally to go back on serve at 4-3.
At 5-5 the wear and tear was starting to show on the Canadian and he looked gassed and played a poor service game. That’s where the world number 44 pounced and broke to take a 6-5 lead and served out the second set to send the match to a decider.
With the momentum clearly with the Fucsovics, he was motivated to finish the match strongly and get the win. For the third consecutive time Pospisil had the first break point of the set at 2-1 but the world number 44 managed to save it to hold serve.
At 4-4 Fucsovics had three chances to break and it took until the third attempt to break to take a 5-4 lead and serve for the match. He would serve it out to book a spot in the next round where he will face Pablo Carreno Busta on Tuesday.
After the match in an on court interview he was asked if he was feeling any ill effects from making it all the way to the final in Rotterdam and then pulling out early in Doha.
“No I was resting for two days so I’m fit and healthy but as I said I’m on the road now for three weeks and I’m getting tired a bit. I want to be fresh for tomorrow, Pablo ( Carreno Busta) is a top 10 player, has unbelievable from the baseline and is a very solid player. For sure there will be long rallies, hopefully I can serve well and hopefully I can have a good sleep tonight.”
Day 1 results
It was a busy day in Dubai at the open with eight first round matches and one second round match. Jeremy Chardy pulled off the first upset of the tournament beating Aussie number nine seed Alex De Minaur 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Emil Ruusuvuori, a qualifier from Finland, beat another Aussie Jordan Thompson 6-3, 7-6. Richard Gasquet defeated Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-4,6-2, to record his 550th win on the Tour. Lloyd Harris set up a round two clash with the number one seed Dominic Thiem after beating Christopher O’ Connell in three sets 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.
Other results
Aljaz Bedene SLO beat Yuki Bhambri IND 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Bernabe Zapata Miralles ESP beat John Millman AUS 6-4, 6-4
Jan Lennard Struff GER beat Mikhail Kukushkin KAZ 6-3, 6-2
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ESP beat Radu Albot MOD 6-4,6-4
