Purcell wins all-Australian opening-round battle at Sofia | 7 November, 2023 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Sofia, Bulgaria

Three weeks in the past, Max Purcell and Rinky Hijikata teamed as much as win an ATP doubles title collectively. Nonetheless, the Aussies discovered themselves on the opposing sides of the courtroom at an ATP 250 match in Sofia this week.

It was Purcell who emerged triumphant of their opening-round singles conflict on the Sofia Open, with the world No.45 posting a 6-3 6-3 win towards his youthful compatriot.

The sixth-seeded Purcell fired seven aces to snap a five-match shedding streak.

Chris O’Connell can be by means of to the second spherical in Sofia, after surviving a spirited problem from Serbian Hamad Medjedovic.

The 29-year-old Australian ultimately earned a 6-7(3) 6-1 7-6(2) victory towards his 20-year-old opponent.

World No.66 O’Connell tallied 15 aces and didn’t drop a service recreation in a two-hour and 36-minute tussle.

Aussies in motion – Sofia

RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[6] Max Purcell (AUS) d Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 6-3 6-3
Chris O’Connell (AUS) d Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) 6-7(3) 6-1 7-6(2)

COMING UP
Males’s singles, second spherical
[6] Max Purcell (AUS) v [WC] Cem Ilkel (TUR)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [7] Sebastian Ofner (AUT)

Males’s doubles, first spherical
Andrew Harris (AUS)/Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Max Purcell (AUS)/John-Patrick Smith (AUS)

Metz, France

Alex de Minaur and John Friends are carrying Australian hopes at an ATP 250 match in Metz this week.

The second-seeded De Minaur obtained an opening-round bye within the males’s singles competitors. This implies the world No.12 begins his marketing campaign with a second-round conflict towards French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert, a former top-40 participant.

Friends is teaming with Brit Lloyd Glasspool within the males’s doubles competitors. The third-seeded duo saved two match factors of their hard-fought opening-round win towards American Robert Galloway and France’s Albano Olivetti.

Aussies in motion – Metz

RESULTS
Males’s doubles, first spherical
[3] John Friends (AUS)/Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) d Robert Galloway (USA)/Albano Olivetti (FRA) 6-7(4) 7-6(5) [14-12]

COMING UP
Males’s singles, second spherical
[2] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [WC] Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA)

Males’s doubles, quarterfinals
[3] John Friends (AUS)/Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) v Constantin Frantzen (GER)/Hendrik Jebens (GER)