Daniil Medvedev bucks upset trend, wins opener in Dubai

Field Level Media|published: 02/25/2025, 1:37pm EST

Aug 20, 2022; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Daniil Medvedev (RUS) returns a shot against Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) at the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia survived a day of upsets at the Dubai Tennis Championships, moving to the second round after a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.

The second and third seeds -- Alex de Minaur of Australia and Andrey Rublev of Russia, respectively -- were upset.

Marin Cilic, a 38-year-old Croatian knocked out de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, while qualifier Quentin Halys of France eliminated Rublev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Rublev won last week in Doha.

Also moving to the second round were fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert of France, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, Italian Luca Nardi and Nico Borges of Portugal. Borges toppled eighth-seeded Arthur Fils of France in straight sets.

--Field Level Media