DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Third-seeded Andrey Rublev adopted up his Qatar Open title with a first-round exit on the Dubai Championships, dropping to qualifier Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Tuesday.
For the 77th-ranked Halys, who subsequent faces Roberto Bautista Agut, it was his first victory over a top-10 opponent.
“For the time being, it’s kind of onerous to grasp,” the 28-year-old Frenchman mentioned. “Mentally, it was a really troublesome match. Andrey is possibly drained from his week in Doha. Beating a top-10 (opponent) is a big second in your profession. I am comfortable it occurred immediately.”
The ninth-ranked Rublev had received the Dubai title in 2022. On Saturday, he beat Jack Draper to win the Qatar Open.
Additionally Tuesday, top-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 7-6 (4) and can subsequent face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Second-seeded Alex de Minaur misplaced to 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Nuno Borges eradicated eighth-seeded Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1.
Different winners Tuesday included fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert, Matteo Berrettini, Felix Auger-Aliassime and qualifier Christopher O’Connell.
