Max Purcell and Thanasi Kokkinakis each defeated prime 60-ranked opponents within the opening spherical at an ATP 250 match in Mexico.
Los Cabos, Mexico, 20 February 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Los Cabos, Mexico
Max Purcell and Thanasi Kokkinakis have made spectacular begins at an ATP 250 match in Los Cabos, beating higher-ranked opponents of their opening-round matches.
Purcell posted his largest singles victory since August, edging out a 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory towards world No.41 Matteo Arnaldi on the hard-court occasion.
The 25-year-old Australian battled for 2 hours and half-hour to notch his sixth profession top-50 win and snap a seven-match dropping streak towards top-50 opponents.
“I haven’t gained too many matches firstly of this 12 months and Matteo is a hell of a participant, so I used to be fairly fearful to be taking part in him,” Purcell mentioned. “He’s a very harmful unseeded participant.”
World No.51 Purcell was notably examined within the closing phases of the ultimate set, the place he virtually squandered a 5-1 benefit towards the 22-year-old Italian.
Three match factors had been missed, on Arnaldi’s service video games within the seventh and ninth video games, earlier than Purcell clinched victory by holding to like within the tenth sport.
“I assumed I performed a very strong final sport to complete,” Purcell mentioned.
“Fortunately he missed just a few balls there on the finish, as a substitute of turning it up like these previous few video games.”
Solely two factors separated them in the long run, with Purcell profitable 101 to Arnaldi’s 99.
Purcell loved an unimaginable run at a sequence of ATP Challenger occasions in India presently final 12 months, profitable three consecutive titles to interrupt into the world’s prime 100.
Relishing the chance to compete at tour-level tournaments this 12 months, Purcell just isn’t involved about defending 300 rating factors over this era.
“Truthfully, it’s okay. I’ve already forgotten about that. I’m extra targeted on simply attempting to get higher day-after-day,” Purcell mentioned.
Purcell’s second-round opponent is but to be determined. He’ll face both German Dominik Koepfer or Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Kokkinakis fell outdoors of the world’s prime 100 this week, sliding to No.103 after his rating factors for profitable an ATP Challenger in Bahrain final 12 months dropped off.
The 27-year-old has bounced again strongly, defeating world No.53 Jack Draper at present in an absorbing two-hour and 58-minute battle.
Draper served for the match within the second set, earlier than Kokkinakis charged dwelling to triumph 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4 towards the 22-year-old Brit.
“I knew the match was going to be robust. I performed him within the Davis Cup Finals final 12 months and I served for the match and misplaced,” Kokkinakis mentioned.
“That positively got here into my thoughts after I was serving for it on the finish there.
“It was a really robust match, however I’m very proud of how I performed.”
This units up a second-round showdown with one other British participant, world No.42 Dan Evans.
Aussies in motion – Los Cabos
RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[7] Max Purcell (AUS) d Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) 6-4 4-6 6-4
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d Jack Draper (GBR) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Males’s doubles, first spherical
[WC] Hans Hach Verdugo (MEX)/Luis David Martinez (VEN) d Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-4 3-6 [11-9]
Nuno Borges (POR)/Andre Goransson (SWE) d Andrew Harris (AUS)/Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-6(6) 6-2
COMING UP
Males’s singles, first spherical
[8] Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [WC] Ernesto Escobedo (MEX)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [6] Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v [WC] Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez (MEX)
Males’s singles, second spherical
[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)
[7] Max Purcell (AUS) v TBC
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Dan Evans (GBR)
Males’s doubles, first spherical
[3] John Friends (AUS)/Harri Heliovaara (FIN) v Guido Andreozzi (ARG)/Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela (MEX)
[4] Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Petros Tsitsipas (GRE)/Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
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