No shocks yet in Halle tune-up as Wimbledon looms
Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev has eased past home hope Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-3 at Germany's Halle Open, looking to find form in his Wimbledon tune-up after early round losses at the Australian and French Opens.
The former US Open winner and 2022 Halle finalist required an hour to beat the German, converting three of six break-point opportunities and saving both break points he faced.
Altmaier saved two match points on Medvedev's serve but was ultimately beaten on the third, as the twice Wimbledon semi-finalist closed out his opening Halle match and inched closer in his chase for a first grass-court title since Mallorca in 2021.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, unseeded at an event for the first time since 2018, edged past Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in a gruelling first-round battle.
Tsitsipas broke for a 3-2 lead in Monday's first set and held off a late charge from Darderi to take it 6-4. The Italian hit back in style, breaking early for 3-0.
The final set was tight throughout. Tsitsipas clinched the match in a tense tiebreak, needing four match points to seal victory.
It was his first event with coach Goran Ivanisevic, who joined his team after a second-round exit at Roland Garros. Tsitsipas, a former world No.3, is now ranked 25th, his lowest position since 2018.
Alexander Bublik, Halle 2023 winner, dispatched France's Alexandre Muller 6-4 6-4. The Kazakh broke late in the first set and struck early in the second, dominating on serve to wrap up the match in one hour.
Bublik, who reached the French Open quarter-finals two weeks ago before losing to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner, will next face either Halle defending champion Sinner or Germany's Yannick Hanfmann, who play on Tuesday.
Last year's runner-up Hubert Hurkacz of Poland withdrew due to injury.
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The Age
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Concussion grounds Eagles high-flyer, permanently; Bont about to get ball rolling on Dogs contract
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West Australian
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- West Australian
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson says retired Eagles star defender Jeremy McGovern is a ‘modern day great'
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2 hours ago
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