Auger-Aliassime advances to Round 2 in Dubai after tightly contested opening match
Canadian posts 8 aces to outlast Kazakhstan's Bublik in 3 sets
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime pulled out a 7-6 (7), 6-7 (4), 6-3 win over Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in opening-round action on Tuesday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The Montreal native had eight aces to five double faults and won 77 per cent of his first-serve points. He broke on three of his 17 opportunities in the two-hour 49-minute match.
Bublik had 16 aces to seven double faults in the contest and won 66 per cent of his first-serve points. He broke on just one of his seven chances.
After a tightly contested opening two sets, Auger-Aliassime found his mark down 2-1 in the third set.
The 24-year-old broke Bublik in the fifth and the ninth games to wrap up the victory winning five of the final six games of the final set.
Auger-Aliassime will next face Portugal's Nuno Borges, who defeated France's Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 to advance.
WATCH l Auger-Aliassime edged by Rublev in Qatar Open semifinal:
Medvedev takes Dubai opener
Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia survived a day of upsets, moving to the second round after a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
The second and third seeds — Alex de Minaur of Australia and Andrey Rublev of Russia, respectively — were upset.
Marin Cilic, a 38-year-old Croatian knocked out de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, while qualifier Quentin Halys of France eliminated Rublev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Rublev won last week in Doha.
Also moving to the second round were fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert of France, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands and Italian Luca Nardi.
Diallo eliminated at Mexican Open
Third-seeded American Tommy Paul made quick work of Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in the opening round of the ATP 500 Mexican Open on Monday night in Acapulco.
Paul only needed 72 minutes to bounce the 23-year-old Montreal player 6-2, 6-2 and advance to the second round where he'll face American Marcos Andre Giron, who beat Adam Walton of Australia 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Diallo finished Monday's match with four aces, two double faults, 26 unforced errors. He won 61 per cent of first-serve points, and 48 per cent of second-serve points.
Paul had no aces, three double faults and 18 unforced errors. He won 66 per cent of first-serve points, and 64 per cent of second-serve points.
Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., will play his men's singles opener on Tuesday against American Nishesh Basavareddy.
