A lot has been happening in the ATP circuit currently. With Vienna and Basel indoors going on, we have seen the rise of a few old horses and a few upsets as well.
Basel Open
Basel open saw its local boy Wawrinka raising the level and eating American Brandon Nakashima in 3 sets by 64 57 64.
After winning the first set, Wawrinka struggled to land his first serve in the second set. This caused him to lose the second set.
In the final set, former number 3 upped his level to beat the American. Wawrinka has struggled with injuries in the last few years and he is gradually returning to his form. This win will boost his morale.
In other results, Holger Rune defeated Ugo Humbert in straight sets 6-4,6-2. Rune won Stockholm Open last Sunday.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz beat Dutch van de Zandschulp 6-4,6-2. The US Open champion last played Astana Open where he got beaten by Goffin in straight sets.
Number 3 seeded Felix Auger Aliassime didn’t find it tough to beat Serb Miomir Kecmanovic and lost just one game in beating him 6-1 6-0.
Fifth seed Pablo Carreno Busta defeated wildcard Dominic Stricker in three sets 7-5 6-7 6-4.
Another Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut beat the former number 1 Andy Murray 6-3 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
Kazakh Alexander Bublik defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 6-3 while Arthur Rinderknech defeated Alex Molcan 6-2 6-4.
Ester Vienna Open
World No 4 Daniil Medvedev was against the US open 2020 champion Dominic Thiem on Thursday at the Vienna Open where the top seed prevailed over Thiem in straight sets6-3, 6-3.
The top seed fought a tough first set with Thiem where the Austrian was hitting clean backhands. Although the local boy did delight the crowd with a few shots, the former number one improved himself and overpowered Thiem. Thiem is returning after an injury and he has gradually been making progress.
“It was a tough match. And, you know when it’s one hour, and 40 minutes, even if you win 6-3, 6-3, that it was a tough match. It could have gone either way,” explained Medvedev.
Medvedev Head to Head with Thiem has reached 3-3.
With the win, Medvedev has reached the quarterfinals of Vienna, his beat in the tournament so far. The 26-year-old will be playing either the Italian Jannik Sinner or Francisco Cerundolo next. This year has been not up to the mark for the Russian and he’ll be looking for his second title of the season.
Medvedev currently stands fifth in the ATP Live Race To Turin, and a good tournament in Vienna would further assure his spot in the ATP Finals a Turin where only three spots are left to be filled.
Polish number 1 Hubert Hurkacz also progressed to the quarter-finals by beating Emil Ruusuvuori in three sets. After dropping the second set against Finn, the fifth seed responded well by racing to a comfortable lead of 4-1 before clinching the victory by 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. He hit 41 winners in his win.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Russian Andrey Rublev affecting his race to the third consecutive ATP Finals appearance. Dimitrov won 6-3, 6-4 in 71 minutes. With this win, his ATP Head-to-Head series with Rublev has gone to 3-3.
Rublev stands at sixth in the ATP Live Race To Turin. However, he could be overtaken by Felix Auger-Aliassime this week who had the well last week.
Dimitrov will be meeting Marcos Giron in the quarterfinals who stunned the British number 1 Cameroon Norrie in straight sets 6-3, 6-4
Giron was 1-2 since he reached his first ATP Tour final in San Diego in September. However, he converted his all three break points to reach the fifth quarterfinal of the year.
In another pre-quarterfinal, Borna Coric beat Stefanos Tsitsipas from a set and breakdown. Coric dramatically recovered back and claimed a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) win to enter the quarter-finals.
With this win, his Head to Head record with Tistsioas has improved to 3-1.
The Croatian is 13-3 from the start of the Cincinnati Open
