IT was a day to forget for Australian representatives in the 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships, as all four of the nation’s competitors bowed out of the ATP 500 event. Top hope Alex de Minaur lost to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in the only Round of 32 match of the day, while John Millman, Christopher O’Connell and Jordan Thompson also departed, losing to a trio of qualifiers in a disappointing result for the nation.

Chardy proved too good for de Minaur in a surprise come-from-behind win over the ninth seed, posting a 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory in an hour and 44 minutes. The Australian had two more aces (7-5) and one less double fault (2-3), but Chardy won the same amount of break points (two) as de Minaur, and both came at crucial moments in the second and third sets respectively. The players were so even across the board, Chardy only won four more points than the Australian for the entirety of the match (81-77).

Fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet achieved some personal history at the event, moving up to sixth on the most career match wins from active players with his 550th triumph at the event. If Gasquet can make a quarter final, then the 34-year-old will surpass Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in fifth on that table, behind the ‘Big Four’ of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Gasquet achieved the feat courtesy of a straightforward 6-4 6-2 triumph over Italian Marco Cecchinato.

“I am feeling great here,” Gasquet said post-match. “I know this court well. “I played well [here] last year. “It is a fast court. “I like to play on it. “It is important to serve well and it was a great match. “I started well, feeling confident and winning the first set and then I played better in the second set.”

Meanwhile the forgettable day from the Australian representatives saw Millman up first losing to Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The Spaniard won 6-4 6-4 against Millman to advance, while fellow qualifiers, Lloyd Harris and Emil Ruusuvuori toppled Christopher O’Connell and Jordan Thompson. In an all-qualifier battle, Harris got the chocolate over O’Connell courtesy of a come-from-behind 6-7 6-4 6-1 victory, with the South African getting better as the match went on. Young Finn, Ruusuvuori continued his good form of the last 12 months to win 6-3 7-6 against Thompson.

The news was not as positive for a couple of other qualifiers with Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin and India’s Yuki Bhambri both bowing out in the first round. Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff won against Kukushkin, powering his way to a 6-3 6-2 victory on the back of 16 aces, while Slovenian Aljaz Bedene took care of Bhambri in a more challenging match than he would have liked, coming from a set down to win 3-6 6-1 6-4.

In other results, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Macedonian lucky loser Radu Albot in straight sets 6-4 6-4, while in the latest game, Marton Fucsovics defeated Vasek Pospisil 2-6 7-5 6-4 in a three-set thriller to round out the day.

DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) defeated [9] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 2-6 6-3 6-4

DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:

[Q] Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) defeated John Millman AUS) 6-4 6-4
Richard Gasquet (FRA) defeated Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-4 6-2
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated [LL] Radu Albot (MCE) 6-4 6-4
[Q] Lloyd Harris (RSA) defeated [Q] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6-7 6-4 6-1
[Q] Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) defeated Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 7-6
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) defaeted [Q] Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3 6-2
Aljaz Bedene (SLO) defeated [Q] Yuki Bhambri (IND) 3-6 6-1 6-4

Picture credit: ATP Tour