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
- 3-time major winner Angelique Kerber will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics
- Naomi Osaka is in a better place as she returns to the Olympics and Roland Garros at Paris Games
- Gauff excited to meet fellow flag bearer LeBron at opening ceremony
- Coco Gauff to be female flag bearer for USA at Olympic opening ceremony, joining LeBron James
- Olympic silver medalist Vondrousova, Hurkacz withdraw from Paris Games