Defending Champ Rublev Advances In Dubai, Zverev Wins, Murray Withdraws; Djokovic Tues.

In Dubai at the Duty Free Tennis Championships in first round action second-seeded Andrey Rublev ousted Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in 7-5, 6-2 in his title defense opener.

Rublev finished with eight aces, won 26/29 (90%) of first service points and was 4 of 6 on break chances. The Russian came from a break down early in the first as Krajinovic led 5-2 but failed to serve it out.

“Crazy things were in my head… Filip is one of my good friends and we always have tough battles,” said Rublev to the ATP. “So today I was going on court thinking that it was going to be a really tough match, and when he started the way he did, I didn’t know what to do because he was playing so good.

“Somehow I calmed myself and said ‘OK, restart at the bottom and raise my level’ and I started to play much, much better. I was able to turn the match around and finish the match in a good way.”

Krajinovic slips to 3-14 against Top 5 players. Rublev and Krajinovic are now tied 3-3 in tour-level meetings.

The No. 7 seed Alexander Zverev got by 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Elsewhere, Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands defeated Constant Lestienne of France in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Lorenzo Sonego moved past Marc-Andrea Huesler 7-5, 6-3 and Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rolled past Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-2, 6-0.

The Tuesday line-up boasts first round action featuring 5-time champion Novak Djokovic who takes on qualifier Tomas Machac.

No. 3 seed and streaking Daniil Medvedev meets Matteo Arnaldi, No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Maxime Cressy and No. 5 Hubert Hurkacz takes on Alexander Shevchenko.

Shevchenko replaced Andy Murray who withdrew from the event due to his hip which underwent a lot of stress last week in Doha.