IT was a mixed day at Rotterdam for Russians at the World Tennis Tournament, whilst the Argentina Open had more predictable results.

It was a mixed day of emotions for Russia at the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, with the second and third ranked Russians winning through to the quarter finals, though top seed Daniil Medvedev fell in the opening round. The world number three went down to Serbian Dusan Lajovic who toppled the Australian Open finalist, 7-6 6-4 in a stunning upset.

It was much better news for fourth seed Andrey Rublev, and Top 25 player Karen Khachanov who both won in straight sets to book their spots in the quarter finals. Rublev held off a determined Andy Murray, defeating the Grand Slam winner and British wildcard, 7-5 6-3. Khachanov toppled Murray’s compatriot, qualifier Cameron Norrie a lot easier, winning 6-2 6-2 to advance to the final eight.

The only other Round of 16 match that took place was Japan’s Kei Nishikori winding back the clock to defeat Australian Alex de Minaur. Nishikori looks over his injury-riddled past, and is building form in the first couple of months of 2021.

Of the four Round of 32 matches, Medvedev was not the only big scalp to fall on the third day of the tournament, as third seed Alexander Zverev met the same fate. The German went down to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in straight sets 7-5 6-3, leaving Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and sixth seed David Goffin as the only remaining seeds left in the ATP 500 event. Goffin won well in a 6-4 6-0 crushing of German Jan-Lennard Struff, while in the other first round match completed, American Tommy Paul knocked off Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4 7-6.

The remaining Round of 16 matches take place tomorrow, with Bublik taking on Paul, Goffin locking horns with French qualifier Jeremy Chardy, Tsitsipas facing Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, Lajovic meeting Croatian Borna Coric, and Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics up against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[4] Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated [WC] Andy Murray (GBR) 7-5 6-2
Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated [Q] Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-2 6-2
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6-3 2-6 7-5

WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

Dusan Lajovic (SRB) defeated [1] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 7-6 6-4
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated [3] Alexander Zverev (GER) 7-5 6-3
[6] David Goffin (BEL) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-4 6-0
Tommy Paul (USA) defeated Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-4 7-6

The first half of the Round of 16 matches in Buenos Aires were completed overnight, with the seeds all advancing against their respective opponents. While second seed Cristian Garin was about to step out on court against Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal in the final match of the day, it is expect the clay court specialist will take care of business there.

In the three other seeded matches, fourth seed Miomir Kecmanovic, fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas and seventh seed Laslo Djere all advanced through to the quarter finals. Kecmanovic toppled Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in three sets 5-7 6-3 6-4, Ramos-Vinolas won in straight sets over German Dominik Koepfer 7-5 6-4, and Djere got up with a tight 7-6 6-3 victory over home nation representative Federico Delbonis.

Tomorrow’s action features top seed Argentinian Diego Schwartzman up against Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein, as another Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo tries his luck against second seed Benoit Paire. Other seeds in action are sixth seed Pablo Andujar up against Italian Gianluca Mager, and eighth seed Frances Tiafoe taking on Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar.

ARGENTINA OPEN ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[2] Cristian Garin (CHI) vs. [Q] Sumit Nagal (IND)
[4] Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) defeated Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 5-7 6-3 6-4
[5] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) defeated Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-5 6-4
[7] Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated Federico Delbonis (ARG) 7-6 6-3

Picture credit: ATP Tour