Rublev threatens Murray in Rotterdam second round

Russian Adrei Rublev, fourth seed, beat American Marcos Giron, from the qualifying round, 7-6 (1) and 6-3, and will be the rival of Briton Andy Murray in the second round of the Rotterdam tournament. Murray, who debuted on Monday with a victory over Dutchman Robin Haase in two and a half hours, will now have a tough test, at a circumstantial moment in his career.

“I feel like I'm risking my career every time I go out on the pitch, which is motivational in a way, but it also adds a bit of extra stress.“commented the former world number one.” There is a little more doubt. Also, I'm playing with a metal hip plate, which is difficult. Trust me, it's not easy. It is a great challenge for me at the moment and I am going to face it, but it is not easy and the last few months have been a bit difficult, “he added.

The Rublev-Murray face to face favors the Briton who won the only duel between the two, at the 2017 Australian Open (6-3, 6-0 and 6-2), but since then the disciple of the Spanish Fernando Vicente has matured and is already in eighth place on the world list. He comes to the duel with his success in the ATP Cup teaming up with Russia, and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. He has also won seven titles, five of them last year.

In another meeting of the day, the Australian Alex de Miñaur of Uruguayan father and Spanish mother, beat his compatriot John Millman, by 6-1 and 6-4 in eighty minutes. Now he will face the Japanese Kei Nishikori.

For its part, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, sixth player in the world, fulfilled his status as second favorite of the Rotterdam tournament and advanced to the second round after beating Belarusian Egor Gerasimov. The Hellenic tennis player, semifinalist at the Australian Open, won 7-6 (4) and 7-5 in one hour and 56 minutes, in a balanced duel that Tsitsipas managed in key moments. The Greek player, who defeated Gerasimov for the second time in three matches, 76 in the ATP rankings, will play in the second round with the Polish Hubert Hurkacz who beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6 (6).