Tennis Acumen

U.S. Open Day 2 expert picks, including Tsitsipas vs. Rublev and Auger-Aliassime vs. Shapovalov

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert Picks get you ready for Day 2 of the U.S. Open, which is highlighted by an all-Canadian affair between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand and Tennis Acumen's Pete Ziebron preview the action and make their predictions.

(8) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Andrey Rublev

Ricky: Rublev is one of the toughest first-round draws, it has to be said. He is a former U.S. Open quarterfinalist and he recently upset Federer in Cincinnati. That being said, he is being hyped as the Second Coming heading into the U.S. Open and people probably need to tone it down just a bit. Federer was rusty having not played since Wimbledon and Rublev has not done much at any slam over the past 23 months. The Russian has to be somewhat fatigued, too. Tsitsipas may be struggling, but at least he is well-rested heading into the season’s final major. And the Greek loves the big stage. Tsitsipas in 4: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3).

Pete: Rublev was the first of the Next Gen to reach a quarterfinal at a major, something he was able to accomplish in New York two years ago. As an alternate in the qualifying draw in Cincinnati, the Russian the proceed to eliminate Stan Wawrinka and Federer before falling to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas has 13 career wins at the majors but just one in the Big Apple and arrives with a three-match losing streak in tow. That said, all three losses were competitive–especially in the Washington, D.C. semifinals against Nick Kyrgios. The Greek is firmly entrenched in the ATP Top 10, while Rublev will be looking to build on his promising results in Cincinnati going forward. However, Rublev will need to wait until later in the year as Tsitsipas prevails in the battle of the 21-year-olds. Tsitsipas in 4: 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

Denis Shapovalov vs. (18) Felix Auger-Aliassime

Ricky: In the long run I’m on the Auger-Aliassime bandwagon just like everyone else. He is a slam winner for sure and possibly a future world No. 1. For now, though, I’m not anywhere close to being on it. The 19-year-old Canadian appears to have hit the wall in what has been a breakout 2019 campaign. Most notably, his serve is an unmitigated disaster at the moment. Shapovalov has been struggling relative to his good friend and fellow Canadian, but he is coming off a semifinal performance in Winston-Salem under new coach Mikhail Youzhny. Unless Auger-Aliassime suddenly starts serving decent, Shapovalov should win this U.S. Open first-round rematch. Shapovalov in 4: 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Pete: Ironically, these Canadian upstarts will be meeting in the opening round in New York in consecutive years. Two paths have diverged in the road since last year, and of the two it is Auger-Aliassime who has played significantly better tennis in the last 52 weeks. Credit Shapovalov for recently adding Youzhny to his team. This move will pay dividends going forward, but not nearly enough immediately to cause an upset in New York. Even though Shapovalov has five match wins in the last two years at this tournament, Auger-Aliassime will finally be able to record his first hard-court win at a major and avenge last year’s loss to his countryman. Auger-Aliassime in 4: 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

Steve Johnson vs. (28) Nick Kyrgios

Ricky: With no disrespect to Johnson, he will mostly be an innocent bystander in this match. Like many Kyrgios opponents (although certainly not all), the American will not have much of an impact on the outcome…which might be a good thing for him. After all, Johnson just lost the last two sets of his Winston-Salem semifinal against Benoit Paire 6-0, 6-0 after winning the first set 6-1. Kyrgios his been all over the place this summer both mentally and from a results standpoint. The Aussie will likely be up and down in this one, as well, but he is actually playing good tennis right now and he will be inspired by a U.S. Open draw that gives him some marquee matchups down the road while also providing a very real shot at the semifinals. Kyrgios in 4: 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2.

Pete: Kyrgios isn’t necessarily the $6 Million Dollar Man, but he is the “Six Figure Fined Man” as a result of his antics in a loss to Karen Khachanov in Cincinnati two weeks ago that cost him $113,000. The Aussie once again displayed his impressive capabilities and talent on court in winning Washington, D.C. earlier this month. That victory elevated him being seeded at the U.S. Open, a fact certainly not lost on the other 31 seeds in the draw.  Even though he reached the semifinals last week in Winston-Salem, Johnson is scratching his head after being double-bageled by Benoit Paire when he was just one set away from the final. The American has fallen in the opening round in four of his last six major appearances. Kyrgios is already eyeing a potential third-round encounter with Tsitsipas and will do everything he can to ensure a rematch of their blockbuster Washington, D.C. semifinal a few weeks ago. Kyrgios in 4: 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-5.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Tennys Sandgren

Ricky: Tsonga has quietly compiled a 23-14 record this season and he has not lost to anyone outside the top 35 since early May. The veteran Frenchman appears to be healthy these days, and when healthy he is always dangerous–especially on a big stage and on a relatively quick surface. Sandgren’s hard-court summer has been a complete debacle aside from a Winston-Salem first-round win over Andy Murray. Of course, Murray is not the same Murray…(yet?). Tsonga is not the same Tsonga, for that matter, but the 34-year-old is slowly making his way back and should have way too much firepower from the American in these conditions. Tsonga in 4: 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Pete: Tsonga’s losses at the majors this year have been to Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, and Rafael Nadal. Thus he can certainly prevail in the matches he is expected to win in the best-of-five format. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, not being seeded leads to meeting the upper echelon of the ATP at the front end of majors. That said, Tsonga has reached the quarters three times in New York and given where he ended up in the draw, a berth in the quarters this year is not out of the question. Following a nice run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, Sandgren picked up his lone win on hard courts last week in Winston-Salem–where he defeated Murray. Both Tsonga and Sandgren won titles this year, something that can not be said about both participants in these other three Day 2 matches. Tsonga recognizes that he can reach the second week in New York and will be dialed in right out of the gate. Tsonga in 3: 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

 

Daniil Medvedev Concludes Torrid 3 Weeks with Cincinnati Title

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Daniil Medvedev in press following his title.  

Sunday marked the third consecutive ATP Final in as many weeks for Daniil Medvedev.  After losing in Washington to Nick Kyrgios and in Montreal to Rafael Nadal, the lanky Russian defeated David Goffin 7-6(3) 6-4 to claim his first Masters 1000 title.

Medvedev won 90% of his first service points in the match (27/30) and finished with ten aces and just a single double fault on the day.  In the opening set, Medvedev broke Goffin in the fourth game but was broken back in the seventh game.  After Medvedev failed to cash in on two break points in the next service game, each player held serve comfortably leading into the tiebreaker.  Neither player was able to win a point in the first four points of the breaker and at 2-all, Medvedev won five of the next six points to take it 7-3.  

Goffin served to open the second set and was broken at 15.  Then Medvedev proceeded to hold serve at love in his next four service games.  Goffin would also hold each time he served and it was up to Medvedev to serve out the match for the title.

After dropping the first two points, the Russian hit an ace but lost the next point.  Goffin was in prime position to break back!  However Medvedev had other ideas as he hit powerful aces on the last three points of the match to win.

In the semifinal against world number one Novak Djokovic, Medvedev altered his strategy and started to go big on his second serve.  After dropping the opening set 3-6, the Russian found himself serving at 0-30 at 3-all.  It was at this moment that he decided to go big on his second serve.  At the end of the match, the Russian hit five second serve aces and ultimately won 3-6 6-3 -3 to advance to the final.

Following the Final, Medvedev elaborated on his accomplishments:   "Yeah, it's been the best weeks in my life. I mean, as I say, mentality was the best in my life. My serve was the best in my life. My tennis was really consistent. I didn't have one bad match. I'm just extremely happy. And hopefully I can continue this way well through all my career but hopefully at least next few weeks."

 

 

 

 

 

Svetlana Kuznetsova Defeats #1 Seed Ash Barty to Reach Cincinnati Final

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Svetlana Kuznetsova continues to win in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated yet another seeded player at the Western & Southern Open,  This time it was #1 seed Ash Barty of Australia 6-2 6-4 to advance to Sunday’s Final.

Kuznetsova needed a Wild Card for the Main Draw due to the fact that she has a ranking of world #153.  In Cincinnati, she has defeated the following seeds: #11 Anastasija Sevastova, #8 Sloane Stephens, #3 Karolina Pliskova and #1 Ash Barty.  In addition, she also defeated world #32 Dayana Yastremska in the second round where she saved two Match Points en route to the victory.

Against Barty, the former two-time major Champion Kuznetsova rallied after dropping the opening two games of the match to win eight straight games to take the opening set 6-2 and lead 2-0 in the second set.

Ash Barty elaborated on the run of eight games: "Today she got off to a pretty poor start, but then was able to flip the switch right away and get back into patterns she can control and she liked.  Yeah, it was hard for me to get out of them, and I couldn't really hurt her much today."

In three of her service games in the second set, Kuznetsova won games at love as she lost just three points on serve in the set. Following the match, I asked Kuznetsova about this fact:  “I’m not serving 100% at the moment because I got injured at the start of the tournament, so I had to figure out how I can push up for the serve so I don’t get hurt more.  So I’m kind of changing my serve a little bit, but it looks like it’s working better.” 

Kuznetsova will attempt to defeat yet another seeded player in the final against #16 seed Madison Keys of the United States.

Daniil Medvedev Reaches Cincinnati Semifinals - A 269 Briefing

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Daniil Medvedev on his way to the Cincinnati Semifinals.  Pete Ziebron Images

Andrey Rublev warming up prior to the Quarterfinal with Medvedev.  Pete Ziebron Images

Daniil Medvedev continues to excel on the tennis court.  On Friday in Cincinnati, the world number eight played his fourteenth match in eighteen days and defeated countryman Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-3 to advance to the semifinals at the Western & Southern Open.

Medvedev started fast and jumped to a 4-0 lead before being broken.  However Rublev was broken at 15 when he served to stay in the opening set at 2-5 and Medvedev claimed the set in just twenty-nine minutes on Grandstand Court.

In the second set, Medvedev broke Rublev at love in the second game and each player would continue to hold serve for the rest of the set.  In the final game, with Medvedev serving at 5-3, he hit three aces to bring his total to nine for the match.

Following the match, I asked Medvedev about playing a fellow Russian for two consecutive weeks in the late stages of a Masters 1000 (d. Khachanov last week in the Montreal semifinals).  “I think it means it’s a bit more important to win  against your countryman, and that’s why both matches were all a little bit tight and scared, I think.  So I’m happy that both matches I was able to be the strongest this month.”

Next, Medvedev plays world number one and defending Western & Southern Open Champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday evening for the opportunity to play this second consecutive Masters 1000 Final in as many weeks. Both players have yet not dropped a set in Cincinnati and the victor will play the winner of the Richard Gasquet - David Goffin semifinal played Saturday afternoon.

 

 

Maria Sakkari Finally Solves Aryna Sabalenka to Reach Cincinnati Quarterfinals

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari enter Court 10 in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Maria Sakkari of Greece stayed the course and eventually defeated #9 seed and last year’s semifinalist Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open.

Court 10 has been the venue of several incredible WTA matches thus far in Cincinnati and this particular contest that opened up play at 11 AM on Thursday did not disappoint. In a rare instance, there were no breaks of serve in the opening set, despite the fact that Sakkari had five opportunities to break in Sabalenka’s last two service games of the set.  The tiebreaker reached 4-all and Sabalenka won the next three points to claim the first set.

Despite three consecutive double faults in the opening service game of the second set, Sabalenka fended off four break points against to hold.  Following a comfortable Sakkari hold at 15, Sabalenka double faulted twice to open the third game and this time saved two more break points as the Greek was now 0/11 in break point opportunities.  Even though Sakkari would jump to a 40-0 lead in the next game, she would lose the next five points and Sabalenka would be up a set and a break and three games away from a berth in the quarterfinals.

Aryna Sabalenka was three games away from the quarterfinals.  Pete Ziebron Images

Each played held and then the match flipped in the seventh game of the set.  After failing to break on five more occasions in the game and standing at 0/16 in break point conversion chances, Sakkari FINALLY broke serve on the twentieth point of the game to get the set back on serve.

After denying Sabalenka a break point opportunity in the next service game, Sakkari held to square the set at 4-all and then broke Sabalenka again in her second break point opportunity in the ninth game of the set and would serve out the second set to level the match.

In the fifth game of the final set, Sakkari would break to take a 3-2 lead.  Neither player would break again and Maria Sakkari would hold on for a victory that sent her into the quarterfinals.  The Greek finished with a 3/23 break point mark but it was good enough on this day.

Maria Sakkari frustrated at not being able to break serve.  Pete Ziebron Images

Next up for Sakkari is the #1 seed Ash Barty of Australia.  The match is slated for 11 AM on Center Court on Friday.

Andrey Rublev Defeats Stan Wawrinka & Stats Sheet to Advance in Cincinnati - A 269 Briefing

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Andrey Rublev keeps winning in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Qualifier Andrey Rublev defeated 16th seed Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-4 on Stadium Court 3 in a match that defies the final statistics.

For starters, neither player hit a double fault in the eighty four minute match.  Wawrinka struck eleven aces and Rublev did not manage to hit even a single ace in the contest.

Rublev won just three points on Wawrinka’s first serve (3/24, 12%) compared to the fourteen points that Wawrinka won on Rublev’s first serve (14/38, 37%).

Wawrinka won twenty two return points in the match compared to sixteen for Rublev.

However, Rublev was able to win the bigger points in the match as Wawrinka was not able to break serve in five opportunities (0/5) while Rublev was perfect in both of his break chances (2/2).

Prior to breaking Wawrinka at 3-all in the opening set, Rublev saved both break points against his serve to take a 4-3 led.  These would be the only opportunities that the Swiss had to break in the opening set as Rublev held comfortably in his next two service games to take the set at 6-4.

The Russian would break Wawrinka early in the second set at 1-all to take a lead he never relinquished despite some drama when he served at 3-2.  In this game, Rublev saved three break points against in a sixteen point game to lead 4-2.  In his final two service games, Rublev lost just one point.

Andrey Rubley has won four matches in the last five days in Cincinnati and advances to the third round to play Roger Federer on Thursday. 

Frances Tiafoe Rallies Past Gael Monfils in Cincinnati

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Frances Tiafoe boasting a Washington Wizards jersey in his presser after a win over Gael Monfils.  Pete Ziebron Images

Frances Tiafoe came back from two large deficits in the first set to eventually defeat Gael Monfils 7-6(7) 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Western & Southern Open.

Monfils raced to a 5-2 lead in the opening set despite digging out of potential problem games on his serve in the fifth and seventh games of the set.  After holding to stay in the set at 2-5, Tiafoe broke Monfils at love and consolidated the break at 15 to level the set at 5-all.

The Frenchman would dig out of a 15-40 hole to take a 6-5 lead and then Tiafoe won his service game at love to advance to the tiebreaker.  Monfils held leads of 4-1 and 6-3 in the breaker.  However, Tiafoe would proceed to win six of the last seven points to take the opening set at 9-7 in the breaker.

When I asked Tiafoe about the comeback in the tiebreaker, he said this: “It was tough.  I played two good points and at 6-6, he overcooked a forehand after a long rally.  Just tried to stay in every point.  It worked out today.”

The lone break of serve in the second set occurred in the sixth game with Monfils attempting to square the set at 3-all.  Tiafoe would break at 15 for a 4-2 lead and then the drama would begin.

Monfils received a time violation as the receiving player.  When I asked Tiafoe about the scenario, here is what he had to say:  “I mean, he was just trying to pull a move.  I mean, let’s get real here.  He was trying to slow me down, obviously.  He’s got a break.  I’m up a set and a break serving, 30-15 have a chance to go for 5-2.  He was trying to slow me down.  I get it, you know.  Using that stuff works but it didn’t work today.”

Tiafoe would hold in the game after nearly a five minute delay with Monfils arguing with the chair umpire.  Each player would also hold and Tiafoe closed out the match  at the ninety minute mark to advance to the second round.  He will play Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain next.

Yulia Putintseva & Iga Swiatek Advance to 2nd Round in Cincinnati

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Yulia Putintseva puts away an overhead smash at net in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Tennis aficionados looked at Monday’s order of play at the Western & Southern Open and immediately identified that Court 10 would be the place to be for dramatic and high energy tennis.  It did not disappoint.

First up at 11 AM was Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan taking on former Roland Garros Champion Jelena Ostapenko of Lativa.  Putintseva held serve at 15 to open the match and was gifted the second game as Ostapenko hit three double faults in the game, the first of three times that this would happen in the match.

With the Latvian serving at 2-5 to stay in the opening set, she again hit three double faults to be broken at love as Putintseva took the set in just 28 minutes.  In the second set, each player broke three times as the last three games of the set were all breaks, including Ostapenko failing to serve out the set.  Yet, Ostapenko was able to momentarily steady her game in the tiebreaker and strung together four consecutive points to take a 4-1 lead and then also won the last three points of the breaker to win it 7-3 and level the match at a set apiece.

Jelena Ostapenko disagrees with a call in the final set.  Pete Ziebron Images

The momentum was short lived as Putintseva broke at 15 to claim the opening game of the final set.  Each player would hold serve until the final game of the match when Ostapenko would hit three more double faults in the game, including the final one on Match Point to lose the set 3-6.

In total, Ostapenko would hit 15 double faults in the match and be broken eight times.  Putintseva advances to play American Sloane Stephens in the second round.

Poland's Iga Swiatek wins three matches in three days in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

The the third and final match on Court 10, qualifier Iga Swiatek of Poland took on veteran Caroline Garcia of France.  Swiatek survived a pair of three set matches in the qualifying round, dropping the middle set in each contest.

Swiatek jumped to a 5-2 lead in the opening set however she would fail to hold serve three consecutive times, including serving for the set at 5-2, 5-4 and again at 6-5.  As a result, the first set went to a tiebreaker and this is where Swiatek took command of the match, winning the breaker 7-1.

In fact, Swiatek would proceed to roll in the second set, winning it in 34 minutes at 6-1.  Including the first set tiebreaker, the Pole would win 37 of the last 52 points of the match to advance to the second round.  

Caroline Garcia in action on Court 10 in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Swiatek would hit 8 aces in the match and convert 5 of 6 break chances against Garcia.  Switek advances to meet the winner of Angelique Kerber and Anett Kontaveit.

Veronika Kudermetova Hits 10 Aces and Advances to Cincinnati Main Draw

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Veronika Kudermetova, preceeded by Monica Puig, enters Court 10 in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Veronika Kudermetova hit ten aces and cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Monica Puig to advance to the Main Draw of the 2019 Western & Southern Open.

The Russian and 10th seed in qualifying, opened the match with a service game at love and also closed the match with a service game at love.  In the fourth game of the opening set, Kudermetova finally broke Puig in her fourth break opportunity.  The break was consolidated at 15 in the next service game and the Russian now held a 4-1 lead.  

After Puig held, Kudermetova quickly fell behind 15-40.  What happened next was remarkable as she would save both break points, the second with an ace, save another break point with an ace and finally close out the game with two more aces.  Three consecutive aces were hit as well as four aces in the last five points of the game!

Veronika Kudermetova hit 10 Aces en route to her second qualifying win in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

With the third seeded Puerto Rican serving to stay in the opening set at 2-5, Kudermetova broke at 30 to take the set in 32 minutes.  The Russian won 94% of her first service points, struck 6 aces, and saved all three break points against.

Kudermetova held comfortably to open the second set and broke Puig in her second opportunity to take a 2-0 lead.  In the next game, the Russian hit two more aces to race to 3-1.  After each player held, Puig was broken yet again as Kudermetova would serve for the win and a place in the Main Draw.

Just as she did in the opening game of the match, the Russian won the game at love and closed the game with two consecutive aces, giving her a total of ten for the match.

Kudermetova will play American Wild Card Bernarda Pera on Court 8 on Monday.  Monica Puig managed to still get entry into the Main Draw as a Lucky Loser as Canadian Open Champion Bianca Andreescu withdrew,  Puig will play Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.

Karlovic Saves 3 MPs, Puig Survives & Tomic Retires Early

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Ivo Karlovic won the last five points of the 3rd set tiebreaker to defeat American Tennys Sandgren 4-6 6-4 7-6(6) on Grandstand Court to open his campaign at the Western & Southern Open on Saturday.

The match was played at a rapid pace as thirty games were completed before hitting the ninety minute mark.  Only two breaks of serve were recorded in the match and ironically, they came in consecutive fashion.  Sandgren broke at love as Karlovic was attempting to take the opening set into a tiebreaker at 4-5.  Ironically, the last four games of the opening set were won at love, including the break of serve to close the first set.

Sandgren fell behind 0-40 in the opening game of the second set, got back to 30-40 and then dropped the next point as Karlovic nosed ahead 1-0.  In the sixth game of the second set, Karlovic fell behind 0-40 before winning the next five points to take the game and go up 4-2.  

Neither player threatened to break for the rest of the match as aces and serve and volley dictated play for the majority of the rest of the match.  In fact, seven of the first eight games of the final set were holds of serve at love.

Sandgren raced to leads of 5-1 and 6-3 in the third set tiebreaker.  However, it was Karlovic who steadied his game when it counted most as he would win both of his points while serving to stay in the match at 3-6, take both of the points when Sandgren served at 6-5 and 6-all and then close the match with his 25th ace of the match to complete the victory.

Karlovic advances to play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third match on Court 7 in the final round of qualifying.

Monica Puig serving to Anastasia Potapova on Court 10 in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Both Anastasia Potapova and Monica Puig struggled during the warmups, as a rally of more than three consecutive strokes was a rarity on Court 10 shortly after 10 AM.  The sloppy play prior to the beginning of the match carried into the opening set as eight breaks of serve were recorded, including six in a row beginning at three-all.  

Potapova did manage to steady her game a bit in the tiebreaker as she jumped to a 4-1 lead and served two aces when leading at 5-2 to close the breaker and take the opening set.  This were the only aces struck by either player in the first set.

However, Potapova would win just eleven points in the second set as Puig broke the Russian in her first two service games of the set and would coast to take the set at 6-1 and even the match.

With Puig serving at 1-2 in the final set, Potapova broke in a lengthy 14 point game to lead 3-1 but was not able to consolidate and we were back on serve.  Following a Puig hold to square the set at 3-all, neither player could hold in the next three games and Puig would serve for the match at 5-4.  It was a struggle as Potapova battled to 30-all before Puig pulled away and won the final two points to claim a 6-7(2) 6-1 6-4 victory in 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Monica Puig advances and will play another Russian, Veronika Kudermetova again on Court 10 at 10 AM on Sunday.

Bernie Tomic retires after nine minutes in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

Less than one hundred people gathered to watch Bernie Tomic play Andrey Rublev on Court 7 on Saturday afternoon.  Tomic looked loose and casual during the warmups and carried that "style of play" immediately into the match.  As a result of his quick serving, he double faulted twice as Rublev broke at love.  

After dropping the opening game of the second game, Rublev won the next four points and hit consecutive aces to jump to a 2-0 lead.  Then it became apparent that something was wrong with Tomic as he was hitting serves with no pace.  After double faulting to go down 0-30, he managed to win the next three points as Rublev leaked errors as he attempted to return serves with no pace on them at all.  After double faulting for the fourth time in two games to get to deuce, Tomic somehow managed to win the next two points to take the game.  

Next, Tomic immediately called for the trainer and was favoring his right shoulder and the right side of his neck.  After a brief consultation, Tomic shook the hand of the chair umpire and retired. Rublve advances and will play Mikhail Kukushkin on Grandstand Court in the final round of qualification play.

The match lasted nine minutes.