Tsitsipas overcomes Sonego as Bautista Agut advances

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame Lorenzo Sonego in a thrilling 7-6(4), 6-3 victory to march into the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday.

The Greek star, who suffered a first-round exit in Doha last week, took one hour and 37 minutes to beat the Italian at the Centre Court.

Tsitsipas and Sonego were engaged in a fierce duel during the first set. Sonego had his chances, holding three break points during a tense tie-break. However, it was the world No. 11 and 2020 finalist who seized control when it mattered most and snatched the set from Sonego’s grasp.

The second set unfolded with similar intensity, the balance maintained until Tsitsipas edged ahead at 4-3. It was the ninth game that proved pivotal, as Sonego faltered and succumbed to a crucial break. Later, Tsitsipas closed out the match after winning the next game.

“It was far from an easy first-round match,” Tsitsipas admitted. “There were moments of trouble, especially in the tie-break. But as the match went on, I felt the tide turning in my favor. At the end of the first set, I was in a bit of a tight spot, but I dug deep, found some brilliant returns, and let my attacking game shine when it mattered most,” Tsitsipas added.

The 2018 champion, Roberto Bautista Agut, fought through a tough battle to advance, battling past the determined Fabian Marozsan 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in a gripping contest.

After dropping the first set 3-6, the Spaniard found himself on the ropes, but his resilience was unshakable. With a fierce determination, he bounced back in the second set, claiming it 6-3 and levelling the match.

The third set was a war of attrition, with both players refusing to back down. The tension reached its peak in the tiebreak, where Bautista Agut finally seized control, winning 7-6(4) in a hard-fought, nerve-wracking finish.

Earlier, Dubai resident Karen Khachanov finally shattered his previous jinx against wildcard Dan Evans to storm into the second round, securing his first-ever victory over the Brit after a string of five consecutive defeats.

The 2020 Dubai quarter-finalist wasted no time in asserting his dominance and quickly established a 4-0 lead. With a display of relentless power and precision, the world No. 24 from Russia seized the opening set 6-1 in just half an hour, breaking Evans’ serve once again.

Evans, who had not competed in a main draw ATP Tour match since October, began to show glimpses of a comeback in the second set, breaking Khachanov’s serve and briefly igniting hope.

However, the momentum proved fleeting. Despite earning more opportunities to break, Evans faltered at crucial moments, and Khachanov broke back at 3-4. He then served confidently for the match, sealing his long-awaited triumph.

The match marked a poignant turning point in their rivalry, and Khachanov couldn’t help but savour the sweet relief of finally overcoming his tricky opponent.

“To be honest, from the very beginning, I was playing at a really high level. I’ve never beaten him before, and we’ve always had tough matches, so I was really eager to get my first win,” said Khachanov.

“Of course, you always come prepared, and you want to start strong, but when I was leading so comfortably, 6-1, 2-0, it was a bit unexpected. I was really controlling the match, and it’s a pity I didn’t close it out there. Maybe the second set could have been even easier.”

Alexei Popyrin brushed aside Lebanese wildcard Hady Habib in the opening match of the first round.

Popyrin, who was once a ball kid at the Dubai Tennis Championships, needed just 67 minutes to beat Habib 6-2, 6-4.

The world No. 27 from Australia was quickly off the blocks, racing to a 4-0 lead against Habib and taking the first set in just 27 minutes.

Habib tried to make inroads in the second set, but Popyrin effortlessly cruised towards victory with a display of dominance and poise, leaving his opponent with little chance to fight back.

Popyrin, born to Russian parents, was just eight years old when his family relocated to Dubai for a few years due to his father’s work commitments. Though they eventually moved on, Popyrin’s connection to the city runs deep, with lasting ties, including a girlfriend he met while attending school in Dubai.

Popyrin’s return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium has been a profoundly emotional journey, stirring up a cascade of cherished memories from his time spent here. In another match, Zizou Bergs defeated Tunisian wild card Aziz Dougaz 6-3, 6-3.

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor