All three top 10 players in action this week lost their opening matches on Thursday. Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov crashed out of the Mercedes Cup, while Stefanos Tsitsipas got the boot from the Libema Open.
Zverev fell to fellow German and well-known grass-court force Dustin Brown 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 in Stuttgart. Brown, down at No. 170 in the world but the proud owner of a Wimbledon win over Rafael Nadal, fought off three break points at 3-3 in the third set and then broke the top-seeded Zverev one game later for the decisive blow.
It was Brown’s second ATP-level match win of the year, coming immediately after a first-round defeat of John Millman.
“I am very, very happy,” the 34-year-old assured. “I didn’t have a good grass-court swing last year and just wanted to come and play very good tennis. Stuttgart is a little bit at altitude and I think that helped my game. I’ve won three very good matches, two in qualifying and one against Millman. The court played a little slower today and it was tough especially against Alex, who is a very good returner. So I had to make a lot of first serves and the break in the first set helped me to gain confidence.”
Brown is joined in the quarterfinals by Matteo Berrettini, who crushed No. 2 seed Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2. A red-hot Berrettini had already ousted Nick Kyrgios this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxLy8IFr_Lg
In ‘s-Hertogenbosch, meanwhile, Nicolas Jarry pulled off a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset of Tsitsipas. Not unlike the Zverev-Brown match, this one also witnessed a crucial moment at 3-3 in the third. Jarry appeared to have double-faulted on break point, but the call was overturned with both players having already retreated to their chairs. The world No. 60 eventually held serve and went on to break Tsitsipas at 5-4 to clinch victory.
“It’s a very, very good win,” the Chilean commented. “I’m very happy for the way that I played Stefanos, one of the best players right now. He’s so young and he’s doing great this year.”
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ah, the joys of a 250 right after a slam!
That’s why they upgraded Queens to a 500 and moved it a week later
It happens. That’s why we watch.