Zverev, Rublev, Hurkacz Tumble Out Of Rotterdam; Tsitsipas v Sinner Tomorrow

At the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam, first round play concluded with a slew of upsets.

Alex De Minaur of Australia bounced No. 2 seed and former champion Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4. De Minaur lost just four points on first serve and never faced a break point against the Russian.

The Australian broke in the 1-all game in both sets and was able to ride it to victory.

The 5th-ranked Rublev hit seven aces, donated three doubles, won just 12/30 (40%) on second serves.

De Minaur improves to 3-20 against Top 5 players. He has also now won three of four tour-level head-to-head meetings when facing Rublev.

“It was a hell of a match,” De Minaur said to the ATP. “I think I had the right mindset. I knew I had to be aggressive and take it to him, and really believe in myself. I’ve been practicing great. I’ve been doing exactly what I did today on the practice court. So it was great to see it all come alive.”

No. 4 Holger Rune, the lone seed to win on the day, topped French qualifier Constant Lestienne 6-4, 6-4. Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov upset No. 5 seed Hubert Hurkacz in two breakers 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5).

Italy’s Jannik Sinner got by Benjamin Bonzi in a match that went the distance 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Home favorite Tallon Griekspoor upended the 8th-seeded Alexander Zverev in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Botic Van De Zandschulp edged Quentin Halys of France in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(7-4). Maxime Cressy moved past Netherlands’s Tim Van Rijthoven 6-3, 6-7(2-7), 6-3 and former Rotterdam winner Stan Wawrinka ousted Richard Gasquet of France 6-3, 6-3.

The French finished 0-4 while the Dutch went 2-0.

Tomorrow’s ticket includes second round play, Jannik Sinner – No. 1 Stefanos Tsitsipas, No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime – Gregoire Barrere, Gijs Brouwer – No. 4 Holger Rune, Botic Van De Zandschulp – No. 6 Daniil Medvedev and also Alex De Minaur – Maxime Cressy.

Sinner is just 1-5 against the Greek.