BIG names were out in full force as the VTB Kremlin Cup continued on its seventh day. The five games played didn’t disappoint with each match putting on a show to remember. Across the pond in Antwerp, Belgium, surprise defeats saw the European Cup tournament heat up.

VTB Kremlin Cup

Following on from his Kremlin Cup campaign in 2019, France’s Adrian Mannarino moved on from the loss to prevail over reigning champion Andrey Rublev, advancing to the quarterfinals in the process. It was a fierce contest that saw the Frenchman down a set in the second but managed to get across the line in the third set to cause a 5-7 7-6 6-3 upset against the world number six. Mannarino showed class with an impressive nine aces served during the game which lasted two hours and 30 minutes. The win marks the 33-year-old’s seventh win against a top 10 player and will see him next face off against world number 51 Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis.

Berankis delivered an impressive performance against Argentinian Federico Coria 6-2 6-1. The Lithuanian remained determined throughout the speedy match up, knocking Coria out credit to his continuous force on serve. Berankis is set to continue his Kremlin Cup campaign in the upcoming quarterfinal.

Number two seed Aslan Karatsev continued his winning streak against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov after coming out on top 6-4 6-3. Following on from wins against Gerasimov in Dubai and Australia previously, the 22nd ranked player took home the victory in one hour and 26 minutes, winning 72 percent of his service points to advance onto the next stage.

Filip Krajinovic was also unlucky against his opponent Pedro Martinez. The fourth-seeded Serbian fell short of the win against the Spanish talent 6-4 6-4. American Mackenzie McDonald also came away with a loss to Frenchman Gilles Simon.

European Open

In the first ever meeting between Argentinian Diego Schwartzman and Scottish former world number one Andy Murray, it was the second seed Schwartzman that managed to get the job done against the former champion. The 29-year-old required two hours and 15 minutes to claim the victory in no easy feat. Murray opened the game, looking to score a win 4-1, but a sudden surge of momentum from Schwartzman saw the tide change, with Murray struggling to keep up. Despite the Scotsman slowly regaining form in a tiebreaker off the back of eight aces, it wasn’t enough to deter the dominant Argentinian from prevailing with the win.

Roberto Bautista Agut had a day to forget as the Spanish talent was toppled by Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. In two hours and 22 minutes, the number four seed bowed out of the tournament after Fucsovics bounced back from losing a first-set tiebreaker.

South African Lloyd Harris has continued to impress this week during the European Open. The seventh seed has carried on his recent form, claiming victory in a speedy result against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2 6-3. It only took 72 minutes for the 24-year-old to advance to the next stage, impressing tennis fans with 11 aces. Harris’ performance follows on from his previous Antwerp campaign back in 2020 where he was among the final eight.

Also impressing was emerging American youngster Brandon Nakashima who in 2 hours and 24 minutes sent Swiss player Henri Laaksonen packing after a classy performance.

VTB Kremlin Cup Round of 16 Results

Adrian Mannarino (FRA) defeated [1] Andrey Rublev (RUS) 5-7 7-6 6-3
[2] Aslan Karatsev (RUS) defeated Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 6-4 6-3
Pedro Martinez (ESP) defeated [4] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 6-3 6-4
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) defeated Federico Coria (ARG) 6-2 6-1
Gilles Simon (FRA) defeated Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-3 6-2

European Open Round of 16 Results

Brandon Nakashima (USA) defeated Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 7-6 6-7 6-3
[2] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) defeated Andy Murray (GBR) 6-4 7-6
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) defeated [4] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-7 6-3 6-1
[7] Lloyd Harris (RSA) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-2 6-3

Picture credit: European Open