Halle Open: Medvedev & Bublik Bow Out

Upsets struck the Halle Open as both world number five Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Alexander Bublik were ousted in the second round.

Russian Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, lost a final set tie-break in a 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-5) defeat by China’s Zhang Zhizhen.

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American Christopher Eubanks defeated Kazakh Bublik 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3. Bublik had previously triumphed over Andrey Rublev of Russia in last year’s final.

Second seed Alexander Zverev will play French 20-year-old Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals following a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

Elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka charged into the Berlin Open quarterfinals before rain halted play.

Contesting his first grass court tournament of the season, Medvedev, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, lost out to Zhang as the world number 42 recovered from a 5-3 deficit in the decisive tie-break.

Zhang will meet Eubanks next after the Wimbledon quarter-finalist ended Bublik’s title defence.

Also in Halle, former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 against American Alex Michelsen.

Halep Open: Medvedev & Bublik Bow Out