Thiem and Sinner advance, Millman beats Hurkacz and Ruud wins the Nadal Academy duel

Jannik Sinner goes ahead at the Mutua Madrid Open. The young Italian prodigy went to the second round of the Madrid tournament after the Argentine Guido Pella retired when Sinner won 6-2, 4-4. The Italian, fourteenth favorite for the title, will have his next rival in the Australian Popyrin, who defeated the German Struff (6-3 and 7-6 (4)).

The big surprise of the morning was starred by the Australian John Millman, who against all odds got rid of the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, twelfth seed for the title and champion of the Miami Masters 1,000, by 5-7, 7-6 (7) and 6-3 ttwo hours and 21 minutes into the game. Millman, who went from low to high and was more solid than the Pole in the decisive phase of the match, will face Briton Daniel Evans in the second round.

Ruud beats Auger-Aliassime in Nadal's Academy duel

In the duel between two of the training regulars at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor Casper Ruud gave Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, fifteenth seed for the title, no options. Toni Nadal's pupil could do little against the Norwegian, a great specialist on clay, and who took the game 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and a half of meeting. Ruud will face the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in the second round, who entered the final table as a 'lucky loser' and who beat Serbian Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 6-4.

The morning shift also left us with the return of Kei Nishikori. The Japanese tennis player wants to go back to being the tennis player who dazzled on clay and showed signs of this with a suffered victory against Russian Karen Khachanov by 6-7 (6), 6-2 and 6-2. Nishikori's next challenge will be one of the big favorites for the title, German Alexander Zverev.

Rublev survives Paul

Andrey Rublev, sixth seed, had a more complicated debut than he surely expected against American Tommy Paul, which came from eliminating Pedro Martínez in the first round. The Russian needed three sets and more than two hours to win by 6-7 (5), 6-3 and 6-4. Leader of the year in victories (27) did not start well against the number 58 of the ranking that played from you to you especially in the first round against the Russian, who made his debut in the main draw of the tournament and had already won twice before to his rival this Tuesday. Rublev will face John Isner or Bautista in the second round, who got rid of Cecchinato (6-2, 6-7 (3) and 7-5).

Bublik stops Shapovalov

Worst luck was the eleventh seed, Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian said goodbye to a long game against Bublik, 44 in the ranking, who took the victory 6-4, 5-7 and 6-4 in two hours and 22 minutes. The Kazakh, who has just reached the final in Singapore (lost against Popyrin) and Antalya (against De Miñaur), thus adds the second win of his career in as many matches against Shapovalov and advances to the round of 16 at the Caja Mágica for the first time. time in his career. His next opponent will be between Schwartzman and Karatsev.

Berrettini prevails in the Italian duel against Fognini

The Arantxa Sánchez court hosted the Italian match of the day between Matteo Berrettini, eighth seed, and Fabio Fognini. He took the first (6-3 and 6-4) with relative comfort, in an hour and 22 minutes and without giving up his service once., to tie the head to head between the two, who until now dominated with a victory his compatriot from San Remo (33 years old and 28 in the ATP ranking). The world number 10 has arrived in Madrid with his victory in Belgrade fresh and will step into the eighth in what is his first appearance in the Spanish capital. His rival in this new commitment could be the Catalan Albert Ramos, if he manages to get rid of the Argentine Delbonis.

Paire focuses on Basilashvili

Benoit Paire, who has spoken again lately for his actions off the court than for his performance on it, advanced to the second round with a consistent win over Georgian Basilashvili. It was the fifth pulse in the history between the two (it was 3-1 for Paire) and the Frenchman, 35th in the world, won it against a player with the best ranking (31st) by 6-4 and 7-5 in one hour and 14 minutes thanks to two breaks in the first round and three in the second. Paire will face Greek Tsitsipas for a place in the round of 16.

Thiem sweeps Giron

Dominic Thiem had a placid debut, one of the strongest candidates to win the tournament. The Austrian, third seeded and fourth in the ATP, passed over the American Marcos Giron with a 6-1 and 6-3 in less than an hour. Thiem served 80% first and bit the rest with four breaks, two per set. It is his 14th victory in Madrid and the 6th in a year in which he has played little (he did not appear since Dubai, back in March) and for now without great sensations, with his ceiling in the quarterfinals in Doha. Even so, Giron, 91st in the 27-year-old ranking, had nothing to do with him, who was making his debut at the Caja Mágica. Thiem will face Australian De Miñaur, who retired in the second set, 6-2 and 3-0 in his favor, from South African Harris.

Results, table and calendar.