ATP Sydney: Thompson downs Mannarino. Rublev and Opelka reach the main draw

The Frenchman won their previous two matches but he stood no chance today, wasting all seven break points he created and getting broken three times from as many chances he gave to Jordan.

Adrian lost just two points behind his second serve but it wasnt enough for a more positive result after wasting his chances on the return and in the pivotal moments in general, sending the Aussie into the last 16. Interestingly, Jordan had to fight against those seven break points in games three and five, erasing them all to stay on the positive side of the scoreboard and keeping the pressure on Mannarino in the rest of the match.

As usual, Adrian suffered a break immediately after squandering his chances, falling 4-2 behind following a great lob winner from the Aussie who secured the opener with a nice hold in game nine for a 6-3. Jordan sailed through his service games in set number two and Adrian was nowhere near that pace behind his initial shot, netting an easy backhand to lose serve in game five and move further away from the positive result.

Thompson sealed the deal with another break in game nine following a forehand error from the Frenchman, celebrating the much-needed ATP win and hoping for plenty of more in the rest of the Australian swing and season in general.

The hard-hitting youngster saved four out of five break points but that wasnt enough for the win, with the more experienced player taking both tie breaks to secure the win and the place in the second round.

Serving at only 54%, Martin managed to save three out of five break points he offered to his opponent and he just did enough in the end to cross the finish line first and leave the young gun empty-handed. Popyrin fired 46 winners and the same number of unforced errors while the Slovak stood on a 22-30 ratio that propelled him towards the finish line despite a deficit he had in the overall number of points won.

The opening set lasted for more than an hour and it was Alexei who saved a break point in the opening game with a forehand winner, avoiding an early setback and repelling another break point at 2-2 with a service winner. That was the last chance for Klizan on the return and he had to dig deep in the 12th game while serving to stay in the set, saving three set points and winning the tie break 7-4 thanks to a smash winner.

Martin broke at the start of the second set with a forehand winner, moving 3-0 ahead with a service winner in the following game. Alexei broke back in game five and he was on a roll now, scoring another break in game nine and wrapping up the set with four winners in his own game a few minutes later for a 6-4 and a huge momentum before the start of the decider.

Martin wasted two break points at the start of the final set and they both served well before the tie break, with no more deuces or break chances what so ever. Klizan raced into a 5-0 lead with a service winner but the youngster climbed back to 5-6, saving two match points before Martin sealed the deal with an unreturned serve in the 12th point to secure the spot in round two.

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