Dubai, February 28, 2024, The Europe Today: In a thrilling return to the court, reigning champion Daniil Medvedev secured a convincing 6-3, 7-5 victory over Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Medvedev, who withdrew from two recent tournaments due to fatigue and a right foot injury, marked his comeback with a stellar performance. This win sets up a clash with Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who overcame Sumit Nagal of India in a hard-fought match.
Fourth-seeded Karen Khachanov showcased his dominance with a straightforward 6-2, 6-3 win against Frenchman Luca Van Assche. Meanwhile, France’s Ugo Humbert, the fifth seed, battled through a challenging match, defeating countryman Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Eighth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain also advanced with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Fabian Marozsan of Hungary.
In the Movistar Chile Open, Italy’s Luciano Darderi emerged victorious in a dramatic encounter, securing a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5) win over Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis. The match lasted an intense 3 hours and 19 minutes, with Darderi sealing the win in the final set tiebreaker.
Other notable results from the Chile Open included Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo’s upset of fifth-seeded Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, and eighth-seeded Jaume Munar’s convincing 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Spanish compatriot Bernabe Zapata Miralles. In an all-Chilean matchup, Tomas Barrios Vera secured a 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory over Cristian Garin.
At the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico, Daniel Altmaier caused a major upset by defeating top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in an all-German first-round match. Altmaier held firm, fending off break points on his serve and securing the decisive break in the third set.
These thrilling encounters set the stage for further excitement in the ongoing ATP tournaments, promising intense competition and surprising outcomes as the players vie for victory on the international tennis stage.
