Last year’s runner-up Andrey Rublev was upset 7-6 (7/1) and 6-4 by Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of the grass-court tournament in Halle, Germany on Monday.
Rublev (no. 3), who has won the Marseille, Dubai and Belgrade tournaments this season, is trying to get his hands on the Halle tournament after losing to Ugo Humbert in the final last year.
Removed by Rublev in 2021, Basilashvili, 25th in the world, will face the winner of the duel between German Oscar Otte and Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round.
Humbert for his part had to work hard not to experience the same fate as Rublev. He erased a set delay to win against qualifying Moldovan Radu Albot 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4) and 7-5.
The French will face in the second round fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz or American Maxime Cressy, also from the qualifications.
In another first-round encounter, Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Notice the entry on the scene, Tuesday, of Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime (no. 4) against American Marcos Giron, who ranked 60th in the ATP.
Auger-Aliassime will also play a doubles match with world No. 1 and Daniil Medvedev. They will face the duo formed by Salvadoran Marcelo Arevalo and Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer, second seeds.
Associated Press
Source: Radio-Canada
