Day 3 of the Astana Open ATP 500 event got underway earlier today in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. The schedule included some big names in action today such as Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Roberto Bautista Agut and Andrey Rublev.
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev was up against Zhang Zhizhen of China. Rublev was dominant throughout the match as he saw it out in straight sets 6-3 6-2. The Russian was serving consistently and was able to break Zhang’s serve thrice over the course of the match. He moves onto the quarter-finals.
The champion of the ATP 250 event in Sofia, Marc-Andrea Huesler was taken down in quite overwhelming fashion by Finland’s Emil Roosuvuori in straight sets 6-0 6-2 in their round of 32 encounter.
Experienced Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut was up to the task in his round of 16 encounter against Pavel Kotov. He was able to emerge victorious is straight sets 6-1 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreak).
David Goffin, after taking down US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, went down to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino who himself had dispatched Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka in his first round. Mannarino was able to win in three hard fought sets 3-6 6-1 7-5.
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic was looking in fine touch as he dismantled Chilean Cristian Garin to win in straight sets 6-1 6-1 to get up and running at the Astana event. He moves to the last 16 stage.
Oscar Otte proved to be quite a tough nut to crack in the first match for ninth seed Croatian Marin Cilic. He eventually beat the German in three sets 5-7 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreak) 6-2. He makes it to the last 16.
In the last match of the evening, 19 year-old Italian Luca Nardi took on third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Even though Tsitsipas was able to beat his opponent in straight sets, Nardi ensured that he put up a good fight and took both sets to a tiebreaker. The Greek won the match 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3). He makes it to the quarter-finals.
Thursday presents us a set of 4 round of 16 matches to look forward to. Marin Cilic will take on Karen Kachanov. Home favorite Alexander Bublik will play Hubert Hurkacz. Botic van de Zandschulp faces Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will take on Emil Ruusuvuori.
Image credits: atptour.com
💫PLEASE DO FOLLOW US FOR MORE UPDATES. ❌WE DO NOT HAVE IRRITATING AND SPAMMY NEWSLETTERS. ✅EVERYTHING IS AND WILL BE FREE FOREVER. SEE YOU AGAIN IN YOUR STORIES AND FEED 🙂
