World number four Grigor Dimitrov has made an early exit in Dubai after a stunning first round defeat to Malek Jaziri, 4-6 7-5 6-4.
Dimitrov, who was the only top 10 player playing this week, made a positive start to the contest as he used his first serve to dictate play and make the Tunisian work hard. Despite a low 1st serve percentage Jaziri kept fighting back and pushed the Bulgarian to his limits on a very fast Dubai court. However it was the top seed, who eventually found a way through and a break in the tenth game secured the first set in 37 minutes.
The second set was once again evenly matched as Jazri pounced on every second serve that came his way. Dimitrov was clearly struggling and couldn’t find his game to really threaten the world number 117. After failing to break from three opportunities in the ninth game, Jaziri eventually took his opportunities and won the last two games of the set to force a decider.
The Bulgarian served 12 double faults all match and they were starting to cost him the match as Jaziri continued to pile the pressure. The Tunisian eventually was rewarded as he broke the world number 4 to love for a 4-3 lead. The world number 117 remained courageous and on his third match point secured victory for his first win over a top 10 player.
The loss for Dimitrov raises further doubts as this isn’t the only time he has been unable to take care of a relatively weak field. However for Malek Jaziri it is his best victory of his career so far and will be very pleased of his efforts. The Tunisian will now play Robin Haase in the second round tomorrow.
Pouille Edges Gulbis
In other results, Lucas Pouille edged out Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-4 6-4 to advance to the second round. The Frenchman converted all three break points to seal victory over the current world number 195. Pouille will now play Karen Khachanov in the second round in a Marseille final rematch. The talented Russian, who narrowly won the Marseille title, defeated Denis Istomin 7-6(1) 7-6(5).
However there was no such luck for another French player as Richard Gasquet crashed out to Borna Coric 6-4 6-3. The fifth seed made some fatal errors as the talented Croatian proved too aggressive for the French veteran as Coric set up a second round meeting with Benoit Paire.
Here are the other results from Day 2 in Dubai:
Pierre-Hughes Herbert def Joao Sousa 4-6 6-4 7-6(5)
Filip Krajinovic def Thomas Fabbiano 0-6 6-2 6-2
Evgeny Donskoy def Blaz Kavcic 6-3 6-4
Damir Dzumhur def Yannick Maden 6-3 6-4
Yuichi Sugita def Ilya Ivashka 7-5 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff def Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-2 6-4
