Defending champion Bautista Agut claims hard-fought victory against Fucsovics

Doha- Defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut began his title defense with a hard-fought 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4 win against world No. 78 Marton Fucsovics in just over three hours on center court on Tuesday. Bautista Agut, who also won in 2019, will be up against Christopher O'Connell, who defeated Fernando Verdasco on Monday, in the second round.

In the other matches, Emil Ruusuvuori, ranked No. 51, scripted a straight-sets 7-5, 6-4 upset against sixth-seed Daniel Evans, the world No. 29, to set up a pre-quarterfinal clash against Jiri Lehecka, who recorded a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Damir Dzumhur.

Meanwhile, world No. 34 and the tournament's eighth-seeded player, Botic van de Zandschulp, got into the second round on the back of a straight-sets 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Ilya Ivashka in the first match of the day.

Van de Zandschulp, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2021 US Open, will be up next against Alexandre Muller, who advanced into the second round after defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili (7-6(3), 6-8(7), 6-4.

While Van de Zandschulp had an easy match, Tallon Griekspoor had to sweat it out for two hours and 17 minutes before defeating Quentin Halys in a decider, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5).

Griekspoor has his work cut out for him as he faces the challenge of the tournament's top seed, world No. 5 Andrey Rublev, in the Round of 16.

Also, Soonwoo Kwon knocked out Abedallah Shelbayh of Jordan (6-3, 3-6, 6-4), the only Arab player in the main rounds, to set up a second-round clash against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

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