Lucky Losers and Qualifiers Coming Up Big in Moscow

Posted on October 17 2018

If you’re given a second chance at something you might as well grab it with both hands! In Moscow this week that is exactly what Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis has been doing. Having entered the main draw of the Kremlin Open as a lucky loser, he has proceeded to claim victories over Denis Istomin and Aljaz Bedene to take his place in the quarterfinals.

 

In the other half of the draw, world number 217, Egor Gerasimov who was a qualifier claimed huge victories over number six seed  Damir Dzumhur (6-1 6-7 6-2), and Frenchman Benoit Paire (6-4 6-4). 25-year-old Gerasimov will compete in his second Masters 250 quarter-final of the year, and will play Adrian Mannarino who defeated number one seed Marco Cecchinato 6-2 6-3.


Other winners in Moscow included wildcard Nick Kyrgios who won his first-round matchup with 20-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev 6-3 4-6 6-4. Kyrgios will now play number 76 in the world, Mirza Basic who defeated Malek Jaziri 7-6 6-2.


Should Kyrgios win his second round match, he will face another Russian in Karen Khachanov, in what should be a fiery match up. 6ft 6inch Khachanov is ranked number 26 in the world, 11 spots higher than Australian Kyrgios. Kyrgios will be hoping for a good run in Moscow as he looks to recover some ranking points, having dropped from a high of 14 in the world this year.


One matchup to look out for in the second round tomorrow is Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Andreas Seppi. Crafty Italian Seppi will be looking to make his first quarter-final since Halle in June, while Herbert will be looking to continue his great fun of form, having made the final in both of his last two tournaments. The pair have never met, but this should make for an entertaining match.


Over in Antwerp, there is an enticing, all French match up to look forward to tomorrow as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on Gael Monfils. These are two of the most entertaining tennis players on the tour, so this game pretty much guarantees some incredible tennis!


Brits Cameron Norrie and Kyle Edmund are also in action tomorrow. Norrie will take on second-seeded Diego Schwartzman while Kyle Edmund will play his first match of the tournament against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.


Norrie took an impressive 6-3 6-2 victory in the first round against Marcel Granollers and now faces number 17 ranked Schwartzman, the man who managed to take a set off Rafael Nadal at the French Open in May. Norrie has made great progress this year, and it will be exciting to see him really test himself against Schwartzman.


There’s lots of action happening on the ATP tour this week, and every day has some great matchups to tune in to. We are particularly looking forward to the Tsonga vs Monfils game, and to see if Norrie can pick up a big win against top 20 players Diego Schwartzman.

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