FOLLOWING two days of qualifiers the Qatar Open started with plenty of intensity with every player hoping to get their campaign off to a hot start. Only three of the seven matches went to three sets, with players making quick work of their opposition.

Sixth seed Filip Krajinovic was put to the test, forced to three sets in a gruelling battle against Britain’s Kyle Edmunds. It was a slow start for Krajinovic who dropped the first set but fought his way back into the contest to win the next two in convincing fashion, 4-6 6-3 6-3. Seventh seed Adrian Mannarino struggled against Alexander Bublik dropping both sets.

Four Frenchmen were among the action with Jeremy Chardy collecting the win against his fellow countryman Gregoire Barrere. It was a thrilling three setter with neither player willing to give an inch and fighting to claim ascendancy. A slight fault in concentration in the second gifted Barrere a glimmer of hope but Chardy steadied to claim the third and ultimately the match. Corentin Moutet also notched up his first win of the tournament with a strong showing against American Tennys Sandgren. Both players displayed their talent across the court with the first set tight before Moutet got the better of his opponent to run out victorious 7-6 6-4.

Fernando Verdasco defeated fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar in straight sets, 6-4 6-3. Verdasco was on fire early making the most of his chances and not letting Andujar dictate the terms of the game thanks to his strong serves and movement across the court. Aussie Jordan Thompson failed to make a splash losing his match against Serbian, Miomir Kecmanovic. The 62nd ranked Serbian did not muck around, getting the job done against the Aussie in an hour and a half to help progress through to the next stage 6-4 6-2.

It was a close battle between Aljaz Bedene and Mikael Ymer with the match pushing out to three sets thanks to their never say die attitude. Bedene took a while to warm up but once he got going Yemer struggled to keep up with his dominant serve dishing up eight aces.