ROTTERDAM/STARNBERG, March 3, 2021
Top seed Daniil Medvedev fell in the opening round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. The World No. 3 lost 7-6(4), 6-4 to Dusan Lajovic of Serbia on Wednesday afternoon.
Lajovic withstood 12 aces from Medvedev, who needed to reach the final in Rotterdam to achieve a new career-high ranking of World No. 2, and broke the Russian’s serve two times to prevail after one hour and 34 minutes.
It’s @Dutzee‘s day in Rotterdam!
Dusan Lajovic upsets top seed Daniil Medvedev 7-6 6-4, meaning the Russian misses the chance this week to claim the No.2 ranking#abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/P0UUyww8Uc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 3, 2021
“I think I was very focused the whole match and not influenced by his good serves and shots,” said Lajovic, who is now 2-7 lifetime against top seeds at ATP Tour events. “I knew if I stayed in the match, I’d get my opportunities and change the rhythm.”
Lajovic will next take on Borna Coric of Croatia, who defeated Dutch wild card entry Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-6(4).
In other action, Alexander Bublik, runner-up at last week’s inaugural Singapore Tennis Open, knocked out No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev 7-5, 6-3. The 23-year-old from Kazakhstan converted four of his nine break-point chances to advance after one hour and 17 minutes.
Sascha B beats Sascha Z 😯
Alexander Bublik with the biggest win of his career over no.3 seed Zverev in Rotterdam 7-5 6-3!#abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/wFynWCJZTb
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 3, 2021
“Beating Sascha is great,” said Bublik, who has won his past three matches against Top 10 opponents. “There were ups and downs for both of us throughout the match, I got a bit lucky and I was perhaps a little more consistent. I’m just enjoying playing matches right now.”
Bublik will next meet US-American Tommy Paul, who edged past Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 6-4, 7-6(7) in two hours of play.
In the evening session, Andrey Rublev overcame British wild card entry Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. The No. 4 seed from Russia saved all three break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own six break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 34 minutes. Rublev will next oppose either No. 6 seed David Goffin of Belgium or French qualifier Jeremy Chardy.
RESULTS – MARCH 03, 2021
Men’s Singles – Second Round
[4] A. Rublev (RUS) d [WC] A. Murray (GBR) 75 62
K. Nishikori (JPN) d A. de Minaur (AUS) 63 26 75
K. Khachanov (RUS) d [Q] C. Norrie (GBR) 62 62
First Round
D. Lajovic (SRB) d [1] D. Medvedev (RUS) 76(4) 64
A. Bublik (KAZ) d [3] [WC] A. Zverev (GER) 75 63
A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d [5] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) 62 76(3)
[6] D. Goffin (BEL) d J. Struff (GER) 64 60
T. Paul (USA) d L. Sonego (ITA) 64 76(7)
Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
J. Chardy (FRA) / F. Martin (FRA) d [3] W. Koolhof (NED) / L. Kubot (POL) 64 63
First Round
H. Kontinen (FIN) / E. Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d [1] J. Cabal (COL) / R. Farah (COL) 46 63 11-9
[WC] P. Tsitsipas (GRE) / S. Tsitsipas (GRE) d S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL) 62 63
ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, MARCH 04, 2021
CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
[6] D. Goffin (BEL) vs [Q] J. Chardy (FRA)
Not Before 12:30 pm
A. Bublik (KAZ) vs T. Paul (USA)
H. Hurkacz (POL) vs [2] S. Tsitsipas (GRE)
K. Krawietz (GER) / H. Tecau (ROU) vs K. Khachanov (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS)
Not Before 7:30 pm
D. Lajovic (SRB) vs B. Coric (CRO)
[Q] M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
