Last-8 line-up at Qatar ExxonMobil Open takes shape
Published: 09 Jan 2020 - 12:45 am | Last Updated: 14 Nov 2021 - 10:38 am
Fernando Verdasco of Spain returns the ball to Filip Krajinovic of Serbia during their pre-quarter-final match yesterday.
Rising Russian star Andrey Rublev yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals of the $1.5m Qatar ExxonMobil, joining top seed Stan Wawrinka in the last eight of the season’s first tournament.
Rublev, the second seed, yesterday beat Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2. It was second win for Rublev over Kukushkin in five meetings on the ATP Tour.
With his slick win yesterday, Rublev has now improved to 6-2 in Doha. On Tuesday, top seed Wawrinka was the first player to reach the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win.
In quarter-finals, Rublev will take on Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert who beat Serbia’s Laslo Djere, seeded five, 6-1, 6-3.
Also yesterday, ‘home boy’ Fernando Verdasco also signed in for the quarter-finals with a three-set win over 6th seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia.
Verdasco, who has been residing in Doha since 2016, won 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 in two hours and 7 minutes. Verdasco fired 17 aces in his win.
In another match yesterday, Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic stunned third seed Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in two sets. Kecmanovic won 7-6 (9), 6-1.
In a commanding performance, Rublev yesterday wasted little time in setting a dominating tempo, producing slick returns from the baseline.
The 22-year-old Russian, who fired four aces, was pleased to be on the court for his first match of the new season.
“I am so excited to be back on court. I was missing the competition side of things so much. I didn’t want the season to end after Davis Cup,” Rublev said.
“I was waiting for this match for so long. I am so happy that I am finally here. I hope I have a good tournament here,” he added.
During a courtside interview, Rublev said he was flattered to receive high praise from tennis icon Roger Federer.
“It’s amazing to hear such words from Roger,” Rublev said with a smile.
“There are so many talented players who are doing so well. So let’s see what happens,” Rublev added.
Rublev broke Kukushkin in games 5 and 9 to sail through the first set which he won with a backhand shot in 42 minutes. In the second set, Rublev repeated the dose on Kukushkin by breaking him twice (in games 3 and 5) to close the match in just 69 minutes.
“I like to believe that I have improved a lot (since losing the 2018 final in Doha). Let’s see how long I play here,” Rublev said.
Rubev said getting one past Kukushkin was a welcome relief.
“I expected it to be (a) really tough match because I know Mikhail a long time. Especially our last meetings in the last one and a half year - out of four, he beat me three times quite confidently. And in our last match, I remember I won after a really tough match in Cincinnati,” Rublev said.
“I’m really happy that I could win in straight sets,” he added.
“I think it was more of a mental match. Both of us were not really feeling the ball as we do normally, so it was more about being mentally tough,” Rublev said.
“Yeah (it was early season nerves). Today it was first match of the season, first match for me in two months. Of course, I was a little bit nervous. My team felt it from the beginning and I feel it also since the beginning of the match. I was more stress nervous,” he added.
“In the end, I’m happy that I was focused more and I won the match,” Rublev said.
Verdasco, 36, is now 11-7 in Doha and 2-0 over his Serbian opponent.
The Spaniard broke Krajinovic in the 12th game to win the first set at 7-5 but was broken in game 9 of the second set to lose a bit of momentum as the Serbian drew level in the match.
However, there was no looking back as Verdasco broke the world number 40 three times in the deciding set to complete his win.
“It’s an amazing feeling to play in Doha. As you know already I am a resident here. It was an honour to play in front of H H the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Nasser Al Khelaifi (the Qatar Tennis Federation President) and the fans,” Verdasco said after the grueling match.
“It was tough after winning the first set. I couldn’t do much in the second set,” Verdasco said. “I played stronger in the third set and I was able to win it,” the left-handed said.
“It was important to stay mentally stronger. I was up in the match after the first set but he was serving well and hitting lines in the second set. It was irritating but he was playing too good,” Verdasco said.
“After the second set, I kept playing better and better and won. I think I will go home and rest now,” Verdasco said with a smile.
Yesterday's Results
Round Of 16
Andrey Rublev (2), Russia, def. Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-2.
Marton Fucsovics, Hungary, def. Cem Ilkel, Turkey, 6-1, 6-4.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert, France, def. Laslo Djere (5), Serbia, 6-1, 6-3.
Fernando Verdasco, Spain, def. Filip Krajinovic (6), Serbia, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0.
Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia, def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (3), France, 7-6 (9), 6-1.
Doubles Quarterfinal
Rohan Bopanna, India, and Wesley Koolhof (3), Netherlands, def. Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland, and Frances Tiafoe, United States, 6-3, 6-4.
Franko Skugor, Croatia, and Henri Kontinen (2), Finland, def. Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski, Britain, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 13-11.
Santiago Gonzalez, Mexico, and Luke Bambridge, Britain, def. Fabrice Martin and Jeremy Chardy (4), France, 6-3, 7-6 (7).
Frederik Nielsen, Denmark, and Tim Puetz, Germany, def. Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Mate Pavic (1), Croatia, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.
