Adrian Mannarino saved a match point to defeat top seed Andrey Rublev at the Kremlin Cup on Thursday, avenging his defeat to the Russian in the Moscow final two years ago.
France’s Mannarino, 33, triumphed 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 over the world No 6 to reach the quarter-finals.
“Two years later, it is completely different,” Mannarino said in his on-court interview.
“We have both improved. Andrey has improved a lot more than me. Even if a player is better than you, anything can happen. I got a little bit lucky today and I am really happy with my performance.”
Meanwhile, Maria Sakkari on Thursday became the first Greek woman to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals.
Sakkari joins Ashleigh Barty, Aryna Sabalenka, Barbora Krejcikova and Karolina Pliskova in the singles field in Guadalajara.
She ensured qualification when Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya retired from their second round match at the Kremlin Cup.
Men
2nd rd
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS x1) 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) bt Federico Coria (ARG) 6-2, 6-1
Pedro Martinez (ESP) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB x4) 6-3, 6-4
Aslan Karatsev (RUS x2) bt Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 6-4, 6-3
Women
2nd rd
Maria Sakkari (GRE x3) bt Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-2, 1-0 - retired
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Lesya Tsurenko (UKR) 6-3, 6-3
Anett Kontaveit (EST x9) bt Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-1, 6-4
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