Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik caused the first upset of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when he ousted seventh-seeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on the opening day of the ATP 250 event at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday.
Russia-born Bublik, 22, who shifted loyalties to Kazakhstan in 2016 and is ranked 48th in the world, won 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round where he will face Slovenian Aljaz Bedene for a spot in the quarter-finals.
The 6’5” player took advantage of his height to blast 10 aces and broke Mannarino three times to win only the 14th match of his career, having enjoyed a breakout season last year by finishing runner-up at the Hall of Fame Open in Rhode Island and the Chengdu Open.
Bedene, meanwhile, bounced back from a set down to beat qualifier Mikael Ymer of Sweden 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Spanish Tour veteran and Doha-resident Fernando Verdasco also advanced, beating his compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-3 in 89 minutes.
“It was a tough match. We know each other a lot. So it’s always a little bit more tricky than the rest of the matches,” said Verdasco.
“And obviously being the first match of the year, you always kind of like to put yourself in a little bit more of pressure and (are) a little bit more kind of like tight and nervous.”
The 36-year-old Spaniard, who has won seven titles in his long career, said he was pleased with his effort but looked forward to getting better.
“I’m happy with the way I played. I still think that I can play a little bit better and just fix a few things. I think I can do a little bit better. But in general, I’m happy of the way that I played the whole match.”
Verdasco moved to Doha in 2016 and hopes to work with Qatar after he retires from the game.
“I moved here five years ago, so right now I really feel like this is my home, and it’s unbelievable. When I first moved back in 2016, obviously it was a big change.
“But now I feel amazing, and I’m so happy to be back every time I come during the year. Obviously it’s not easy because of all the tournaments we have around the world. But every time I have a period of time, I find time to come here and to be at home and to take care of my house, actually. It’s never easy to leave a house for a long period of time.
“And, you know, my friends here in Doha, before I came here, they were telling me to move here and to be here and to help sport and to help the country to become better in sport. So I thought that, why not, no?
“So I think that, you know, I’m at an age already of my career that I have to start thinking — still hopefully for few more years playing tennis, but obviously my career is going to come to an end somehow, some day. And I think that Doha is the place for me that, you know, that after my career I can really help the country to become better in sport. And I think that this country is improving amazing in that way, making huge events.”
Verdasco, like Stan Wawrinka, said he would have preferred to play in Doha anyway, instead of the ATP Cup in Australia.
“For me actually, it’s a shame that they put it the same week as Doha because I will always choose Doha between this and the ATP Cup. So I would love to play (the ATP Cup), but I will always choose Doha. So I think if the week is the same that I will never play the ATP Cup.”
Earlier, qualifier Corentin Moutet of France also posted a first-round win, saving seven match points in the process against American Tennys Sandgren. Moutet won 7-6 (3), 6-4 and will meet fourth seed Milos Raonic of Canada in the second round.
In a late match, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy beat compatriot Gregoire 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.


RESULTS
Singles
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt 7-Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-3, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-4, 6-3; Aljaz Bedene (SLO) bt Mikael Ymer (SWE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Q-Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA) 7-6 (3), 6-4; Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-4, 6-2; Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Q-Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.


Doubles
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) & Frances Tiafoe (US) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS) & Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6); 2-Henri Kontinen (FIN) & Franko Skugor (CRO) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) & Rashed Nawaf (QAT) 6-3, 6-1; Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) & Luke Banbridge (GBR) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) & Milos Raonic (CAN) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 10-5; Rohan Bopanna (IND) & Wesley Koolhof (NED) bt Marco Cecchinato & Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-3, 6-2.


Today’s Order of Play
Center Court (starts at 3:30pm)
n 8-Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs Q-Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
n Not before 5:30pm
n 1-Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
n WC-Malek Jaziri (TUN) vs Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)
n WC-Marco Cecchinato (ITA) vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA)


Court 1 (starts at 3:30pm)
n Aljaz Bedene (SLO) vs Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
n Cem Ilkel (TUR) vs Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
n 1-Mate Pavic (CRO)/Bruno Soares (BRA) vs QC-Marton Fucsovics (HUN)/Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
n 4-Jeremy Chardy (FRA)/Fabrice Martin (FRA) vs Divij Sharan (IND)/Artem Sitak (NZL)


Court 2 (starts at 3:30pm)
n 5-Laslo Djere (SRB) vs Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
n Frederik Nielsen (DEN)/Tim Puetz (GER) vs Marcelo Demoliner (BRA)/Matwe Middelkoop (NED)
n Aljaz Bedene (SLO)/Laslo Djere (SRB) vs Ken Skupski (GBR)/Neal Skupski (GBR)