Arthur Rinderknech qualified for the knockout stages of the Stockholm tournament, taking advantage of the abandonment of Alexander Bublik at the start of the second set.
Before joining the French team to play in the final phase of the Davis Cup, from November 25 in Innsbruck, Arthur Rinderknech hopes to go as far as possible in the last ATP tournament of the season. The 26-year-old Frenchman, who released the best ranking of his career in Stockholm this week (60th), received a little help from fate for his entry into the running in Sweden, with the abandonment of his opponent Alexander Bublik (36th).
The No. 6 seed Kazakh threw in the towel for reasons as yet unknown as he trailed 6-1, 2-0 after 36 minutes of play. Rinderknech had managed to break him four times, taking advantage of his opponent’s six double faults, and was therefore heading for a quiet victory, but it came sooner than expected.
The Varois trained in the United States will have a good shot in the round of 16 against the lucky Slovak loser Josef Kovalik, 135th in the world. The French Davis Cup team’s tracksuit may well wait a few more days …
STOCKHOLM (Sweden, ATP 250, hard inside, € 711,275)
Title holder (2019): Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
1st round
Sinner (ITA, n°1) – Bye
Murray (GBR, WC) – Durasovic (NOR, Q)
Paul (USA) bat Borg (SUE, WC) : 6-4, 6-2
Gerasimov (BIE, LL) – Fritz (USA, n°5)
Evans (GBR, n°4) – Bye
Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bat McDonald (USA) : 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Martinez (ESP) – Ruusuvuori (FIN)
Tiafoe (USA, n°8) bat E.Ymer (SUE, WC): 6-4, 7-6 (2)
Rinderknech (FRA) bat Bublik (KAZ, n ° 6): 6-1, 2-0 abandonment
Kovalik (SLQ, LL) bat Gojowczyk (ALL) : 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5
Vavassori (ITA, Q) bat Kotov (RUS, Q): 6-3, 6-4
Shapovalov (CAN, n°3) – Bye
Fucsovics (CAN, n ° 7) bat Mannarino (FRA) : 6-4, 6-0
Van de Zandschulp (PBS) – Serdarusic (CRO, LL)
Krajinovic (SER) bat Istomin (OUZ, Q): 6-4, 6-2
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°2) – Bye
