DUBAI: There are four seeds remaining in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, led by top seed Kei Nishikori, No. 2 and seven-time champion Roger Federer, No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 6 Borna Coric. In addition, reigning champion Roberto Bautista Agut, who is unseeded, looks to continue his early season success.
In the opening match, Nishikori and Polish No. 1 Hubert Hurkacz meet for the first time. Nishikori comes in with a 12-2 record on the season, having won his first title since 2016 at Brisbane, and making a third straight Grand Slam quarter-final-or-better at the Australian Open. Hurkacz is looking to reach his first career ATP Tour QF and earn his first Top 10 win (0-2).
In the next match on, Monfils brings a 3-1 head-to-head record against wild card and 2016 Dubai finalist Marcos Baghdatis, Monfils is just one ranking spot away from reclaiming his status as the top-ranked Frenchman, having won his eighth career title at Rotterdam two weeks ago. Baghdatis is 10-8 lifetime in Dubai and he is trying to reach his second QF of the season (Montpellier).
In the third match on, Federer looks to remain unbeaten (6-0) against 2017 finalist Fernando Verdasco, who last faced the Swiss superstar four years ago here in this round (Federer won 64 63). Overall Federer has won 13 of the 14 sets against the Spaniard. Federer is looking for his 50th win in Dubai (49-6) while reaching the QFs-or-better for the 11th time. Verdasco’s best result this season is the QFs in Sofia earlier this month.
In the final match on, Coric tries to beat two-time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych for the first time (0-3). Coric was a semi-finalist here in his 2015 debut and Berdych was runner-up in 2013-14. Berdych is off to a 12-4 start this season, highlighted by a runner-up in Doha (l. to Bautista Agut).
On Court 1, Denis Kudla attempts to become the first American to reach the QFs-or-better in Dubai since Andy Roddick won the title in 2008. Kudla faces Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, who won the only previous main draw meeting in 2013 Winston-Salem. In the next match on, Bautista Agut brings a 2-0 head-to-head record against Nikoloz Basilashvili, who is off to a career-best 11-1 start. In the last singles match, qualifier Egor Gerasimov of Belarus meets Tsitsipas for the first time on the ATP Tour. Gerasimov won their previous pro meeting 46 63 75 in the QFs at 2016 Andria, ITA Challenger. Tsitsipas is a career-high No. 11 in this week’s ATP Rankings after capturing his second career ATP Tour title in Marseille on Sunday. Sport Desk
