In a dominant display, Alex de Minaur surrenders just one game in his opening match at the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona.
Barcelona, Spain, 20 April 2023 | Vivienne Christie
Barcelona, Spain
Alex de Minuar will take impressive momentum into a final-16 meeting with Grigor Dimitrov in Barcelona, after surrendering just one game in his opening match.
The Australian spent just over an hour on court in a dominant 6-0 6-1 victory over Alexander Shevchenko, adding to his pleasing history at the ATP 500 tournament.
In 2022, De Minaur overcame top-10 opponent Cameron Norrie to reach the semifinals, where he fell to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in three tight sets.
The world No.19 De Minaur showed similar poise as he launched his 2023 campaign in Barcelona, saving all three break points that he faced against Shevchenko.
Applying pressure with the nine break points he created against the Russian, De Minaur converted three times in his efficient victory.
Dominant Demon 😈
Aussie @alexdeminaur takes out in-form Shevchenko 6-0, 6-1!@bcnopenbs | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/jHP6nIEEYG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 19, 2023
De Minaur will aim to edge ahead in a tight head-to-head record against Dimitrov, with the pair claiming two wins each in the four matches they’ve contested.
Dimitrov claimed their most recent meeting in the Rotterdam quarterfinals earlier this season.
Jason Kubler’s Barcelona campaign ended with a straight-sets loss to in-form Lorenzo Musetti.
There was better news for Matt Ebden in the doubles, the Australian combining with Rohan Bopanna to upset No.4 seeds [4] Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
Aussies in action – Barcelona
RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
[8] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Alexander Shevchenko (RUS) 6-0 6-1
[9] Lorenzo Musettti (ITA) d Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-3 6-1
Men’s doubles, first round
Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Matt Ebden (AUS) d [4] Nikola Mektic (CRO)/Mate Pavic (CRO) 7-6(4) 3-6 [10-8]
COMING UP
Men’s singles, third round
[8] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Grigor Dimitrov
Men’s doubles quarterfinals
Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Matt Ebden (AUS) v Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) /Eduoard Roger-Vasselin (FRA)
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