AFP, Dubai :
Top seed Kei Nishikori dispatched the “tricky” Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-3 on his debut at the Dubai Championships on Tuesday, while Marin Cilic was knocked out by Gael Monfils.
Asia’s top player, the world number six, will meet Hubert Hurkacz in the second round at the Aviation Club. The Pole beat French qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3, 7-5. Cilic became the highest seed to exit so far as he went down to Monfils, with the Frenchman storming through a decider to win 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
Rising Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, title-winner in Marseille at the weekend, opened his campaign with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Australian Matthew Ebden.
The 20-year-old Tsitsipas is on the brink of breaking into the world’s top 10 after a fantastic start to the year which also saw him beat Roger Federer en route to the Australian Open semi-finals.
“I’m happy that I was the first to find some solutions,” said Tsitsipas, who suffered from jet lag after arriving at 0200 local time on Tuesday.
