DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Nabigo si Roger Federer sa tatlong match points para maisuko ang 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) desisyon kontra Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy nitong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila) sa Dubai Tennis Championships.
“(I) surprised everyone I think today,” pahayag ng 116th-ranked na si Donskoy. “Whoever win against Roger surprises himself, I think.”
Tumama sa net ang forehand shot ni Federer para mapalawig ang tiebreaker sa third set. Tangan ni Federer ang 5-1 sa ikatlong tiebreaker, sumabalit nagpakatatag si Donskoy.
“I had my chances,” sambit ng 18-time major champion na si Federer.
“I should somehow close it out. Don’t know how it got away, but he did very well, and yeah, it’s a rough one, for sure.”
Sunod na makakaharap ni Donskoy si No.7 seed Lucas Pouille sa quarterfinals. Nagwagi si Pouille kay qualifier Marius Copil 6-1, 6-4.
Nakopo ni top-seeded Andy Murray ang isa sa walong slot sa quarterfinals nang pabagsakin si Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-2, 6-0.
Nagwagi si fourth-seeded Gael Monfils kay Dan Evans, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, para maisaayos ang duwelo kay Fernando Verdasco, namayani sa all-Spanish second-round kontra sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
Hataw si Robin Haase kontra fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, para makasagupa si Damir Dzhumur, kumawala kontra Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4.
