THREE top 10 players are out of the ATP Barcelona Open fantasy tennis tournament after a couple of huge performances by their opponents. The winners were not too much of a surprise in those matches though, with two former top 10 talents and a clay court specialist winning through to the Round of 16.

Former world number one and Grand Slam winner, Andy Murray took out 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 6-2 in Murray’s sensational return to the ATP Tour. Joining him in the third round were Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Norway’s Casper Ruud after big upsets. Nishikori won with surprising ease against fifth seed, Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-3, while Ruud took down French top player, Gael Monfils in three sets, 6-4 3-6 6-1.

It was much more convincing from a seeds perspective with likely semi-finalists, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem winning their respective matches easily. Coming up against a pair of much lower rated Spaniards, Nadal and Thiem barely missed a beat during their matches, wrapping up both contests in less than 80 minutes. Nadal defeated Spanish qualifier, Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1 6-1, as Thiem defeated Spanish wildcard, Jaume Munar 6-1 6-3.

The three remaining players through to the next round were 12th seed Russian, Karen Khachanov, 14th seed Swiss star, Stan Wawrinka and unseeded Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta. Khachanov knocked out Argentinian Guido Pella 6-4 4-6 6-3, while Wawrinka and Carreno Busta both won in straight sets, over Taylor Fritz and Denis Shapovalov respectively.

Tomorrow’s action has a number of must-watch matches including Italian Fabio Fognini up against fourth seed Swiss Master Roger Federer, as well as sixth seed Greek up-and-comer Stefanos Tsitsipas facing off against Monte Carlo semi-finalist, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated [Q] Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) 6-1 6-1
[3] Dominic Thiem (AUT) defeated [WC] Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-1 6-3
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated [5] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6-3 6-3
Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated [8] Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-4 3-6 6-1
[WC] Andy Murray (GBR) defeated [10] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 7-6 6-2
[12] Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Guido Pella (ARG) 6-4 4-6 6-3
[14] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) defeated Taylor Fritz (USA) 6-2 6-4
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated [15] Denis Shapovalov (CAN)  6-0 7-6