Alexander Bublik joined the list of eighth finalists for the Madrid Masters 1,000 this Monday by defeating American Ben Shelton, 3-6, 7-6 (2) and 6-4.
The Kazakh will meet in the next round with the winner of the clash between the Russians Daniel Medvedev and the American Sebastian Korda.
The American, 21 years old and fifteenth in the ranking, He swept the Kazakh off the court in the first set.
But in the second there is no way to break his service, because Bublik measured the corridors and tired to pass Shelton with a long analogy. In the tiebreaker of that round it was the American who was overlooked.
With a break in the third for 2-1, Bublik got the match back on track. Shelton couldn’t get good position on the court and his opponent’s punches landed everywhere.
The world number 18 is a quarterfinalist in Madrid in 2021.
Three weeks ago he fell in the first round in Monte Carlo against Croatian Borna Coric.
In another match of the day, the Czech Jiri Lehecka, 30th favorite, ended the fight of Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (6-4 and 7-6(7)) to enter the round of 16, where he will play against the winner of the clash between Rafa Nadal and Pedro Cachín.
The Czech’s second experience at Caja Mágica has been fruitful so far. He arrived in Madrid this season without winning a game in the tournament. Last season he didn’t make it past the initial round.
This time, exempt from the first section, he defeated the Serbian Hamad Medjedovic. Now, the champion in Adelaide this season and finalist in Winston Salem last year, He eliminated Montero who made a splash in the initial round by eliminating Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The European had beaten the Brazilian twice before, one of them on dirt. This time he sealed the victory in two years by scoring the third match point he had.
Source: La Verdad
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