Indian qualifier dumps Monfils but Zverev foils Aussie upset bid

WASHINGTON: Eighth-ranked Alexander Zverev and 10thranked Milos Raonic foiled upset bids Wednesday at the ATP and WTA Citi Open but 200th-ranked Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri stunned defending champion Gael Monfils.

Zverev, a 20-year-old German playing his first hardcourt match in four months, rallied to edge Australia’s 75th-ranked Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).

“I’m just happy to be through and happy to get the win,” Zverev said.

Canada’s Raonic, hoping to end an 18-month ATP title drought, blasted 26 aces in defeating France’s Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (10/8) on the Washington hardcourts where he won in 2014.

“This is a chance to really get things going the right way,” Raonic said. “It’s the leadoff to having a chance to turn things around. This year, I haven’t had that good a season.”

France’s Monfils, ranked 22nd, was humbled after stumbling from the start as Bhambri won 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

“I played very bad. It wasn’t a good match,” Monfils said. “I’m disappointed. It’s tough to talk about it because it was really bad. I love this tournament. To come here and play a poor match like that, it’s very tough.”

Bhambri connected on 72 percent of first serves in the opening set, winning 16 of 18 points on his first serve, and lifted his level in the third set, taking of 20-of-23 first serve points.

“Definitely one of the biggest wins of my career,” Bhambri said. “I hung in there and fought my way through. It gives me a lot of confidence going into my next match.”

Next up for Bhambri is Argentina’s Guido Pella, who ousted Bhambri’s Davis Cup teammate Ramkumar Ramanathan in round one.

“I’m absolutely going to ask him for some advice,” Bhambri said.

Zverev will seek his 100th career ATP match victory Thursday against 106th-ranked American Tennys Sandgren, who advanced 6-3, 3-0 when Aussie 10th seed Nick Kyrgios retired and was booed off the court with what was described as a right shoulder injury. - AFP