Roberto Bautista Agut celebrates after defeating Andy Murray.
Doha: Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut yesterday handed former World No: 1 Andy Murray one of his worst career defeats in a one-sided Qatar ExxonMobil Open encounter.
The World No: 16, Bautista Agut left no space for the two-time Doha champion, who went down 6-0, 6-1 in 66 minutes at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
The victory booked Bautista Agut a meeting against compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who overcame British opponent Dan Evans in a thrilling three setter 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
“It’s not easy to win a match. It’s never easy to do it against Andy. He’s a great player. He’s been showing up really good tennis this year in Australia and well, I feel good after winning the first match,” Bautista Agut, who won the Qatar title in 2019, said after the match.
“I love playing in Qatar. I love playing in this court. When I show up. I set up one of my best tennis here in this court. And I’m really happy to do (the same) in the quarter-final and have another chance to play a good match tomorrow,” Bautista Agut said.
Last time Murray and Bautista Agut met was in 2019 during the Australian Open where the Spaniard prevailed in a marathon five-setter.
However, yesterday’s result draws a totally opposite picture for the three-time Grand Slam winner Murray, who has opted out of the clay court season to buy time as he targets a return to Wimbledon.
Murray, who began the week with an impressive 6-2, 6-2 win over Taro Daniel on Tuesday, managed just one game win on his way to an early exit.
Denis Shapovalov of Canada in action against Alex Molcan yesterday.
Meanwhile, top seed Denis Shapovalov also made it to the quarter-finals with a comprehensive win over Alex Molcan.
The Canadian dropped just eight points on serve in eight service games on his way to a 6-4, 6-0 win over the World No. 73 Slovak in just 52 minutes.
It was a strong response from the 22-year-old, who last week suffered an upset straight-set defeat to fast-rising Czech Jiri Lehecka in Rotterdam.
In the quarter-finals, Shapovalov will meet Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who enjoyed a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 win over seventh-seeded Kazah Alexander Bublik.
Nikoloz Basilashvili returns the ball to Elias Ymer.
Yesterday, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili also got off to a winning start.
The 6-4, 7-5 win against Swedish Elias Ymer was the first win of the season for the third-seed Georgian.
He next faces tough Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 winner over Soonwoo Kwon.
“Obviously disappointed that I cannot play on centre court, but hopefully I’m looking forward to play again tomorrow in the centre court and looking forward to play a good game,” the Georgian said.
In another absorbing matches of the day, sixth-seeded Karen Khachanov booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5(4), 6-3 win over Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland.
Qatar ExxonMobil Open Results
Men's Singles: Round of 16
Denis Shapovalov (CAN x1) bt Alex Molcan (SVK) 6-4, 6-0
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bt Alexander Bublik (KAZ x7) 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x3) bt Elias Ymer (SWE) 6-4, 7-5
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Kwon Soon-woo (KOR) 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3
Karen Khachanov (RUS x6) bt Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
Marin Cilic (CRO x4) bt Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 6-3, 7-5
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bt Dan Evans (GBR x5) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x2) bt Andy Murray (GBR) 6-0, 6-1
Today's Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 2:30pm
Quarter-finals:
(1) Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)
Followed by
(3) Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Not before 6:00pm
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs (2) Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
Followed by
Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs (4) WC Marin Cilic (CRO)
Grandstand 1
Starts at 2:30pm / After Suitable Rest/TBA
Doubles Semi-finals
Mackenzie McDonald (USA)/Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) vs Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Followed By / After Suitable Rest/TBA
Wesley Koolhof (RUS)/Neal Skupski (GBR) vs Andrey Golubev (KAZ)/Fabrice Martin (FRA) or Alexander Bublik (KAZ)/Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
