ATP Rotterdam: Stefanos Tsitsipas tops Hurkacz. Khachanov, Rublev, Auger-Aliassime..

After a slow start of the season in Australia, Stefanos Tsitsipas is off to a winning rhythm in Rotterdam, beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours and seven minutes. Struggling with a shoulder injury, the Greek lost the opener despite a great comeback, shifting into a higher gear after that to dominate in sets two and three and reach the last 16. Finding his range in the second part of the encounter, Stefanos hit 28 winners and 20 unforced errors, leaving the Pole on almost 40 unforced mistakes and securing six breaks from 11 opportunities to cross the finish first. Hubert broke in the third game of the match and had three set points on serve at 5-4, wasting them all to suffer a break before taking the tie break 7-2 with a return winner for an early advantage. With no room for errors, the Greek grabbed three breaks in set number two for a 6-3, gaining boost and sailing through the decider with a double break to seal the deal with four winners at 5-1.

Filip Krajinovic took down home star Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-1 in just over an hour, dropping 12 points in eight service games and never facing a break point. On the other hand, he broke Tallon four times and had the upper hand all the time to secure the place in the last 16. Karen Khachanov needed an hour and 19 minutes to dismiss the 5th seed Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3, taming his shots nicely and overpowering the rival who wasn't at 100%. Karen lost serve once but that was hard to notice after taking half of the return points, securing four breaks and moving into the next round with a forehand winner in the ninth game of the second set that earned a break at love for him. The 7th seed Andrey Rublev stormed over Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-3 in 55 minutes, securing the 12th victory from 13 matches in 2020. An in-form Russian lost seven points in eight service games, offering no break chances to the opponent and stealing half of the return points to deliver four breaks from five opportunities.

Andrey broke at love in the first game and moved 5-2 up following a forehand mistake from Nikoloz, closing the opener with three winners in game eight for a 6-2. Nothing changed in set number two and the youngster moved over the top with a double break in games one and nine for a convincing start. Aljaz Bedene needed just over an hour to dismiss pale Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-4, creating 15 break chances in such a short encounter and converting four for an easy day at the office and the place in the next round. Felix Auger-Aliassime had to work hard to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in just under two hours, taking only four points more than the German and with both players producing two breaks of serve. The Canadian recovered nicely after losing set number two, fending off all five break chances in the deciding set and moving in front after a double fault from Jan-Lennard in game eight, sealing the deal with a forehand winner in the next game for a hold at love and a spot in the last 16. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Sj2EmL