Qatar ExxonMobil Open—Doha, Qatar
Alcaraz Reaches Doha Second Round; Shnaider Advances in Dubai
Monday’s action at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, Qatar featured four-time Major winner Carlos Alcaraz reach the second round, defeating former US Open winner Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4.
Needing one hour and 39 minutes to advance, Alcaraz hit four aces, won 70 percent of his first serve points and broke his Croatian opponent on three occasions.
Alcaraz, who recently won the title in Rotterdam, Netherlands, will next face Zhizhen Zhang or Luca Nardi for a place in the quarterfinals.
Other results on the day included Christopher O’Connell ousting Hady Habib 7-6(7), 7-6(3), and Jiri Lehecka defeating No. 7 seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4.
Dimitrov was returning to the Tour after sustaining a groin injury in Australia to start the year.
Tuesday’s action in Doha will be highlighted by 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic, No. 2 seed Alex de Minaur and No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev.
Djokovic teamed up with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco earlier on Monday in his last professional tournament to defeat Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1.
Verdasco, 41, turned professional in 2001 and hit a career high of No. 7 in the world in April of 2009.
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Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships—Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Monday’s schedule at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates featured No. 11 seed Diana Shnaider advancing to the second round, dismissing Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2.
Shnaider, who is currently ranked No. 13 in the world, hit one ace, won 66 percent of her first serve points and broke her Polish opponent on five occasions.
The Russian will next face Linda Noskova for a place in the third round. Noskova dispatched Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6(5) on Sunday.
Other winners on Monday in Dubai featured Victoria Azarenka, Mccartney Kessler, Moyuka Uchijima, Clara Tauson, Marta Kostyuk, Eva Lys, Sorana Cirstea, and Anastasia Potapova.
Kessler defeated recent Doha winner Amanda Anisiamova and Cirstea took out No. 10 seed Daria Kasatkina.
Tuesday’s action in Dubai will be highlighted by top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
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