Andrey Rublev broke five times in his 6-1 3-6 6-4 win over Chengdu runner-up Alexander Bublik after 1 hour and 32 minutes to clinch his first win at the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow after entering this match with a 0-4 win-loss record.
Rublev went up a double break in the second and sixth games to win the first set 6-1. Bublik built up a 4-0 with two consecutive breaks in the second set. Rublev pulled back one break in the seventh game for 2-5, but Bublik served out the second set at love in the second set.
Bublik got a break at love in the fifth game. Rublev broke straight back to draw level to 3-3. Rublev converted his second match point on return in the 10th game after coming back from 15-40 down.
Two-time Moscow semifinalist Ivo Karlovic fended off one match point to beat Aljaz Bedene 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (8-6). Karlovic came back from 5-6 down by winning three consecutive points in the tie-break of the third set. The Croatian giant set up a second round match against his compatriot Marin Cilic.
This year’s Antalya finalist Miomir Kecmanovic converted six of his nine break points in his 6-1 7-5 win over Russian qualifier Artem Dubrivnyy in 72 minutes in his debut at this tournament. Kecmanovic will take on Jeremy Chardy, who won 90 % of his first serve points in his 6-4 6-2 victory over Nicolas Jarry.
Mikhail Kukushkin won 75 % of second-serve points in his 6-4 6-3 win over Evgeny Donskoy.
Phillip Kohlschreiber beat Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Roberto Carballaes Baena edged Ricardsas Berankis 6-2 3-6 6-4.
