ALMATY/STARNBERG, October 21, 2026

Tuesday’s action at the Almaty Open produced several impressive performances and notable upsets, headlined by James Duckworth‘s victory over second seed Luciano Darderi. The Australian prevailed 7-5, 7-6(9) in a hard-fought encounter, while France’s Adrian Mannarino eliminated fourth seed Andrey Rublev in three sets. Italy’s Mattia Bellucci and Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili also secured convincing victories to progress in the ATP 250 event in Kazakhstan.

Duckworth Outserves Second Seed Darderi

Duckworth delivered an outstanding serving performance to overcome Darderi in their first-ever professional meeting. The Australian fired 17 aces and won 88 per cent of his first-service points, proving particularly effective on the indoor hard courts.

Following his victory, Duckworth praised the tournament’s organisation and playing conditions, highlighting the combination of indoor tennis and altitude as particularly favourable for his game.

“Yeah, I mean, look, first of all, the tournament is unbelievable. You get so well looked after, the hospitality, the food, you know, all the massage therapists, the player desk, everyone’s so helpful and so friendly, and got great coffee here as well,” he said.

“So, I really enjoy coming back and I like playing indoors first of all, when we’re at a little bit of altitude. So, yeah, I think that’s some of the best conditions for me. They both go a long way to contribute to me playing well.”

Despite the defeat, Darderi remained positive about his performance, particularly given that Almaty marked his first indoor tournament of the season. The Italian acknowledged Duckworth’s excellent serving and admitted that he had missed several opportunities in the second-set tie-break.

“I think it’s a really good match, not for players, first time here. The other player, one time making final, semi-final, so he feels good in the altitude. I think he plays a perfect match with the serve. He served pretty good today,” Darderi reflected.

He added that the performance had nevertheless given him confidence for the upcoming indoor tournaments, saying: “It’s good, better than last year, so I’m very happy about the tennis that I play today, the performance. It’s the first tournament of the season in indoor court, so now I have two more, and I think I have a good confidence for the next tournaments. I’m playing really good.”

Mannarino Uses Tactical Intelligence to Eliminate Rublev

Adrian Mannarino produced an impressive tactical performance to defeat fourth seed Andrey Rublev in a three-set encounter. The Frenchman relied on his characteristic flat groundstrokes, subtle changes of pace and excellent court coverage to neutralise the Russian’s powerful baseline game.

Rublev attempted to take control by moving closer to the baseline and increasing the speed of his serve, but Mannarino consistently disrupted his rhythm by taking the ball early and keeping errors to a minimum.

After claiming the opening set 6-4, Mannarino had to withstand a strong response from Rublev, who levelled the match with a 6-3 second-set victory. However, the Frenchman regained control in the deciding set, using his consistency and precise shot placement to put his opponent under pressure.

Winning 77 per cent of his first-service points, Mannarino took advantage of crucial break-point opportunities. A late break ultimately secured a 6-3 victory in the deciding set and a significant win over one of the tournament’s leading contenders.

First man in event history to reach 4 QFs 🤓

Adrian Mannarino fights through a tough 6-4 3-6 6-3 battle against Rublev!

#AlmatyOpen https://t.co/wRKBnOl7LB

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 21, 2026

Rublev’s exit was a disappointment, but the Russian also spoke about a particularly meaningful experience away from the court. During the tournament week, he took part in an outreach event with autistic children, an experience he described as deeply rewarding.

“For me it’s a great experience in terms of the kids, they teach you a lot, and they’re showing you a lot of things that you don’t want to face sometimes. And, for me, it’s not about even playing tennis with them or not, it doesn’t matter what I do with them, it’s always special because you can learn a lot,” Rublev said.

Bellucci Battles Past Etcheverry

Italy’s Mattia Bellucci also produced a notable upset, overcoming seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4.

The left-hander claimed a tightly contested opening-set tie-break before Etcheverry responded emphatically, dominating the second set to force a decider.

Bellucci raised his level when it mattered most, firing 15 aces and maintaining his composure during the decisive stages. A crucial late break in the third set proved sufficient to seal the victory and send the Italian through to the next round.

Basilashvili Powers Past Díaz Acosta

Nikoloz Basilashvili completed the day’s impressive performances with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over Facundo Diaz Acosta.

The Georgian dominated from the baseline, combining powerful groundstrokes with an outstanding serving display. He struck 14 aces and won 89 per cent of points behind his first serve, leaving his Argentine opponent with few opportunities to get into the match.

Basilashvili also converted four break points to maintain control throughout the encounter and secure a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals.