Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas entered the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Matthew Ebden of Australia on Wednesday night.
In what was Tuesday's last match on the centre court, the fifth seeded Tsitsipas overcame the second set fightback from the Australian to win the match in one hour and 43 minutes.
"In the first set my rhythm on the serve was okay. I guess the conditions were not easy to play and deal with. I'm happy that I was the first to find some solutions to win that match," he said after the match.
"Also he wasn't easy to play against. He was playing pretty well. He has an Australian way of playing, coming to the net, serve and volley, playing flat, playing low. I'm glad I got through that."
The 20-year-old Greek, who won the Open 13 tournament last Sunday, will now take on Belarusian qualifier Egor Gerasimov who beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5).
Tsitsipas, the Australian Open semifinalist, is making his second Dubai appearance.
Meanwhile, former Dubai runner-up Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also advanced with three-set win over Belarusian Lucky Loser Ilya Ivashka 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7/4).
RESULTS
TUESDAY
SINGLES
(5) Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) beat Matthew Ebden (Australia) 6-4 3-6 6-3
Gael Monfils (France) beat (3) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 6-3 4-6 6-0
(1) Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Benoit Paire (France) 6-4 6-3
(WC) Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat (WC) Mohamed Safwat (Egypt) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat (LL) Ilya Ivashka (Belarus) 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7/4)
(Q) Richard Berankis (Lithuania) beat (8) Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 6-3 6-3
Denis Kudla (US) beat Matteo Berrettini (Italy) 6-2 5-7 7-5
(Q) Egor Gerasimov (Belarus) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5)
Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) beat Corentin Moutet (France) 6-3 7-5
Order of play (Wednesday)
Centre Court
2pm
Singles
(1) Kei Nishikori (Japan) vs Hubert Hurkacz (Poland)
(3) Gael Monfils (France) vs (WC) Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus)
Not before 7pm
(2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) vs Fernando Verdaso (Spain)
Followed by
(6) Borna Coric (Croatia) or (LL) Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) vs Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic)
Court 1
Singles
2pm
Denis Kudla (US) vs (Q) Richard Berankis (Lithuania)
Followed by
Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia)
Followed by
(Q) Egor Gerasimov (Belarus) vs (5) Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece)
Followed by
Doubles
(WC) Leander Paes (India)/Benoit Paire (France) vs (4) Rajeev Ram (US)/Joe Salisbury (Britain)
Court 2
Doubles
(Time TBA)
Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands)/Horia Tecau (Romania) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia)/ Matthew Ebden (Australia)
Court 3
4pm
Singles
Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) vs Marton Fucsovics (Hungary)
Doubles
(1) Oliver Marach (Austria)/Mate Pavic (Croatia) vs Ben McLachlan (Japan)/ Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany)
By Rituraj Borkakoty
