ATP roundup: Novak Djokovic survives scare in Dubai

 

[March 01, 2023]  No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia outlasted Czech qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1) in a tighter-than-expected first-round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates.

Djokovic, the world No. 1, hit 12 aces and saved seven of 10 break points before dominating a tiebreaker following a neck-and-neck third set with the world No. 130 Machac. With the 2-hour, 27-minute victory, Djokovic extended his winning streak to 18 matches and improved to 12-0 in 2023.

Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands upset No. 6 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia 7-5, 6-2 by earning a 21-16 edge in winners and saving four of five break points. No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat Italian lucky loser Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-2.

No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and No. 5 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland won their matches in three sets. Croatian eighth seed Borna Coric advanced when British opponent Daniel Evans retired in the first set. Also advancing were Sweden's Mikael Ymer, Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik and Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell.

Movistar Chile Open

Brazil's Thiago Monteiro upset No. 5 seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in first-round action in Santiago.

Sixth seed Laslo Djere of Serbia fared better, sweeping past Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-2.

In a battle of wild cards, Chile's Cristian Garin took down former world No. 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Other winners Tuesday included Marco Cecchinato of Italy, Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, Nicolas Jarry of Chile and Dusan Lajovic of Serbia. Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena won his first set 6-1 before countryman Carlos Taberner retired.

Abierto Mexicano Telcel

Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Cameron Norrie of Great Britain both withdrew from the event in Acapulco, Mexico, two days after they faced off in the final at Rio de Janeiro.

Norrie, who beat Alcaraz for the fifth tournament title of his career, bowed out of Acapulco citing fatigue. Alcaraz withdrew due to a right hamstring strain that he said would "keep me out for several days."

The lucky loser who got Norrie's spot in the draw, Sweden's Elias Ymer, took advantage of the opportunity and beat France's Adrian Mannarino 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round. Italy's Luciano Darderi, who got in thanks to Alcaraz's exit, fell 6-4, 6-2 to the United States' Mackenzie McDonald.

Eighth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur, Portugal's Nuno Borges, the United States' Brandon Nakashima and Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Jacopo Berrettini also advanced to the second round.

--Field Level Media

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