Millman overcomes Popyrin in 3 hours to begin Munich Open bid

The Associated Press ·
Australia's John Millman reacts as he plays against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their first round match of the ATP tennis BMW Open in Munich, southern Germany, on April 26, 2021.
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP / Getty

MUNICH (AP) — John Millman won an all-Australian match against Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-5 to move into the second round of the Munich Open on Monday.

The eighth-seeded Millman saved 13 of 15 break points as he needed almost three hours to overcome Popyrin.

Millman is coming off three consecutive second-round losses since the European clay season began, and will face Guido Pella in the second round. Pella was leading 6-0, 2-0 in his first-round match with Egor Gerasimov when the Belarusian retired.

Lucky loser Ricardas Berankis earned a second-round meeting with top-seeded Alexander Zverev after beating wild card Maximilian Marterer 7-6 (10), 6-3.

Federico Coria will take on third-seeded Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev after beating Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in a match which saw seven consecutive breaks of serve in the first set.

Qualifier Ilya Ivashka upset Emil Ruusuvuori 6-1, 6-2 to move to an 8-2 record on clay this season, including qualifying matches.

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