ATP Sofia - DRAW: Khachanov, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Bautista Agut seek title
Arena Armeec Sofia in the Bulgarian capital will host the fourth edition of the Sofia Open, with a high-quality field of players that will fight for the first indoor title of the season. Two former champions are in the draw but not the one which the crowd wanted to see the most, with Grigor Dimitrov skipping the home tournament for the second year in a row after winning the title in 2017. After scoring two singles wins for Russia over Switzerland in Davis Cup Qualifiers, Karen Khachanov leads the draw and seek a good result after a mediocre 2-2 start in 2019 so far.
Just like Karen, Denis Istomin and Matteo Berrettini played in Davis Cup this weekend and one of them will compete against the Russian in the second round, with the last year's finalist Marius Copil, Fernando Verdasco and the three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka for the top quarter as well. 2016 winner Roberto Bautista Agut is the 4th seed after already winning nine matches in 2019, winning the title in Doha and advancing into the last eight in Melbourne. Roberto will face the Bulgarian youngster Adrian Andreev or Matthew Ebden in the second round before the quarter-final clash against Adrian Mannarino, Marton Fucsovics or the 8th seed Andreas Seppi who played in India on grass on Friday and Saturday.
The 5th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili is another player capable of creating the damage in the draw, facing a qualifier before the possible encounter against the defending champion Mirza Basic in round two. Robin Haase, Dimitar Kuzmanov and the 3rd seed Daniil Medvedev are in the third quarter too, with the Russian looking for another good result after playing in the final of Brisbane and the fourth round of the Australian Open. The 7th seed Gael Monfils takes upon Viktor Troicki and the winner of that one has to face Laslo Djere or Mikhail Kukushkin who led his country against Portugal in Davis Cup.
Jan-Lennard Struff plays against a qualifier before the second round clash against the 2nd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas who wants to continue where he left in Melbourne, reaching the first Grand Slam semi-final where Rafael Nadal halted him in straight sets. Full draw:
[1]Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Bye Denis Istomin (UZB) vs Matteo Berrettini (ITA) Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Marius Copil (ROU) [6]Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Qualifier
[4]Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Bye [WC]Adrian Andreev (BUL) vs Matthew Ebden (AUS) Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs Qualifier [8]Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
[5]Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) vs Qualifier Mirza Basic (BIH) vs Martin Klizan (SVK) [WC]Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) vs Robin Haase (NED) [3]Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs Bye
[7]Gael Monfils (FRA) vs [WC]Viktor Troicki (SRB) Laslo Djere (SRB) vs Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs Qualifier [2]Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Bye
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2S7T9Zb
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