ROTTERDAM/WASHINGTON, February 13, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
Nine days ago, Alexander Bublik captured his fourth ATP Tour singles title on indoor hard courts at Montpellier, France, by defeating Borna Coric in the final.
Fast forward to Tuesday at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where the eighth-seeded Bublik of Kazakhstan met the Croatian No. 1 again, this time in the first round of this ATP 500 indoor hard court event. That’s tennis life, folks.Slee
Coming in on a four-match winning streak – and despite the early starting time for him of 11 a.m. – everything fell in place for the World No. 23 Bublik, who two weeks ago in France needed to come from behind to win all of his matches en route to the title. This time, it was not necessary as Bublik beat the 31st-ranked Coric, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, in one hour and 51 minutes.
A deserving smile 😃
8th seed Alexander Bublik books a tasty lunchtime win over Borna Coric: 6-3 6-4. 😋 #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/xhPmJuZfdZ
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 13, 2024
Asked during his on-court interview what was most pleasing about his win over Coric, Bublik didn’t hesitate for a moment when he said: “Winning at 11 a.m. I mean, I haven’t done this in the past three years.
“I had no expectations when I saw the schedule. … Last time I had to wake up at 7:30 a.m. was in October. Before 10, you [usually] won’t see me awake. I texted my coach and said ‘maybe we should just pull out.’”
Instead, the sleep-deprived Bublik fired 13 serves and hit 28 winners overall against Coric, which overcame his 27 unforced errors. He converted two of eight breaks points, saved all five break points against him and outpointed his opponent 85-76.
“I’m happy just to get through,” Bublik said. “I’m really happy with my performance. I stayed in there, I put the ball on the court, though it was difficult for me because of the early time. I’m happy just to get through.”
Bublik goes back-to-back ✅@BublikAlexander defeats Coric 6-3 6-4 for a second victory over the Croatian in two weeks! #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/BSH8uJCQ9J
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 13, 2024
Asked if there was a different energy facing Coric in the first round than in the final, Bublik admitted: “The game plan was to just wake up. Honestly, there was no game plan whatsoever. I was barely warming up. I had no power. For me, it was just to see if I could play at eleven o’clock, put the balls in the court. It worked so I’m really happy.”
Next, Bublik will face Canada’s Milos Raonic, one of three Canadians in the draw – and unlike the match against Coric, this one is second match on Court 1. So, rest assured, Bublik can sleep in a little longer.
Around the Rotterdam Ahoy
World No. 11 and fifth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, playing in his first event outside of his home country this season, eased past No. 33 Sebastian Korda of the United States, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 22 minutes to move into the second round against 133rd-ranked Belgian qualifier David Goffin.
In their third meeting after split their previous two encounters, de Minaur took advantage of a break of Korda’s serve in each set. He hit 14 winners, made just 12 unforced errors and outpointed his opponent 73-56. Korda countered with 11 aces and 18 winners. However, he was undone by 30 unforced errors.
De Minaur is now 15-3 versus Americans since the start of 2022 season, including a seven-match winning streak, and he improved to 22-4 in his opening rounds since the start of the 2023 season.
Stunning display 😍
Unreal point by @alexdeminaur on his way to defeating Korda 6-4 6-3 to advance in Rotterdam.@abnamroopen | #bnamroopen pic.twitter.com/yXqPGPpdP9
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 13, 2024
No. 57 Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan has earned 12 of his 22-career tour-level wins on indoor hard courts, highlighted by his run to his first ATP Tour final last year at Metz. On Tuesday, Shevchenko powered his way past No. 47 Zhang Zhizhen of China, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 55 minutes. He struck 13 aces and hit 44 winners against Zhang, who came in with a new career-high ranking after reaching the Marseille quarterfinals last week. It was the first time this season that Shevchenko had come back to win after losing the first set.
Next, Shevchenko will play the winner of Wednesday’s first-round match between World No. 7 and third seed Holger Rune of Denmark and No. 39 Roman Safiullin of Russia.
For one day we’ll call him Chef Chenko. 👨🍳
Shevchenko heats up in time to cook up a win over Zhang: 4-6 6-4 6-3. #abnamroopen 🥘 pic.twitter.com/bonbAe6ZE5
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 13, 2024
No. 86 Marton Fucsovics hit 11 aces and struck 25 winners in his 91-minute 7-6 (5), 6-1 upset win over fellow Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, who is ranked 61st, in their first meeting. The 2021 finalist Fucsovics saved seven of eight break points and converted three of five break-point opportunities against Marozsan. He outpointed his opponent 73-58. Next, Fucsovics will face either World No. 13 and sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria or No. 48 Lorenzo Sonego or Italy.
He was the hungriest of the Hungarians.
Marton Fucsovics, #abnamroopen finalist in 2021, got by his countryman Marozsan: 7-6(5) 6-1. 😁 pic.twitter.com/UBePxF8Pbh
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 13, 2024
No. 25 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany advanced over No. 24 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), in two hours and 25 minutes. The big-serving German struck 16 aces and won 86 percent of his first-serve points to win. Next, he will face,No.7 seed Ugo Humbert, winner of last week’s Open 13 Provence title in Marseille or No. 55 Emil Ruusuvuori, who play Wednesday.
No. 1 seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Austin Krajicek of the United States advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Harri Heliovaara of Finland and John Peers of Australia. The winners combined for five aces and saved all six break points they faced. They outpointed their opponents 70-62. Next, Dodig and Krajicek will face Andreas Mies of Germany and John-Patrick Smith of Australia, who defeated Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), 11-9.
Tuesday’s ABN AMRO Open results
Wednesday’s ABN AMRO Open order of play
By the numbers
No. 4 seed Hubert Hurkacz leads the ATP Tour lead in wins with 11. Currently ranked at career-high No. 8, Hurkacz reached the second round at Rotterdam for the fourth consecutive year with his 6-3, 6-9 (3), 7-6 (9) victory over No. 32 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, but is still looking for his first quarterfinal berth.
Tasty Tuesday concludes with a happy meal for Hubi after all! 🍟 @HubertHurkacz saves 3 MP against former #abnamroopen semifinalist Jiri Lehecka: 6-3 6-7(9) 7-6(9). 🤯
The 4th seed becomes the next opponent of… Tallon Griekspoor. 🍿
We’re already thirsty for Thursday. 🍹 pic.twitter.com/r16KKJa7v2
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 13, 2024
“Quotable …”
“That was the toughest draw for one of the qualifiers. But when I’m on the court, I go for the win.”
— Qualifier Zizou Bergs of Belgium, describing making it through qualifying, then being drawn to face World No. 5 and second seed Andrey Rublev of Russia in the first round. Rublev won 7-5, 6-3.
The Rublev roar returns to Rotterdam! 😤
Our former champion starts his tournament with a hard-fought win over a vigorous foe, defeating Zizou Bergs 7-5 6-3.
That sets up a 🌶️ second round clash with Auger-Aliassime! 😃 #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/NQpCauSVRJ
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 13, 2024
