4th Seed Jannik Sinner saved three match points in a tense second set tie-break before rattling off five points in a row to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6,7-6(6),6-3 in the first round of the ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free.
It was a very tough match,” said Sinner after completing the comeback. “I know him [Davidovich Fokina], but we’ve never played against each other. It was the first time for both of us and it was a tricky one, saving three match points. On the first one I got lucky because it was out, but not so far [out].”
Sinner, who reached the quarter-finals in Dubai in 2021, faces former World No. 1 Andy Murray in the second round.
The Scot won their only previous meeting in straight sets in Stockholm in November.
Second seeded Andrey Rublev was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Brit Daniel Evans and fifth seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz easily beat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-1.
Denis Shapovalov of Canada, came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics; and eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat France’s Arthur Rinderknech. 6-4,6-3.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner at full stretch to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – ©ATPTour.com
