Basilashvili stuns Rublev in 1st round in Halle
HALLE, Germany (AP) — Last year's beaten finalist Andrey Rublev lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the first round of the Halle Open on Monday.
Rublev, who won titles in Marseille, Dubai, and Belgrade this season, was bidding to go one better in Halle after losing last year’s decider to Ugo Humbert. But Basilashvili stunned the third-seeded Russian and avenged his defeat to Rublev last year.
Basilashvili next faces Germany's Oscar Otte or Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Defending champion Humbert was made to fight hard but ultimately came through against Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-5. The French player next faces the fifth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz or American qualifier Maxime Cressy.
Also, Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Danish teenager Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (5).
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
HEADLINES
- No. 1 Sabalenka continues to roll at Wimbledon
- What's behind all the huge upsets at Wimbledon this year?
- Wimbledon's shift from line judges to electronic system not seamless
- Got extra Wimbledon strawberries? Swiatek says put them on pasta
- Wimbledon set for 1st-time winner as Navarro ousts defending champ Krejcikova