Duckworth Too Strong for Kecmanovic at the Start of the Tournament
Serbian tennis player Miomir Kecmanovic was eliminated at the very start of the ATP 250 tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In a match that lasted one hour and nine minutes, Australian James Duckworth was the better player, winning in straight sets 6:4, 6:3.
Kecmanovic struggled throughout the match to find a solution to the aggressive play of the inspired Australian, who recorded 27 winners compared to just 15 from the Serbian player. Although Miomir had a solid first-serve percentage (69%), Duckworth was much more dangerous on the return, successfully converting three out of four break points. On the other hand, Kecmanovic managed to break his opponent’s serve only once out of three attempts, coupled with a weak point conversion on his second serve (only 41%), which was not enough to put up stronger resistance. The Australian deservedly advanced to the second round, winning a total of 61 points in the match against Miomir’s 52.
Mannarino Breaks Vukic’s Resistance After Three Sets
In the second match of the day on Center Court, we witnessed a much longer and more uncertain battle. Experienced Frenchman Adrian Mannarino managed to defeat Australian Aleksandar Vukic after a fierce three-set struggle: 7:6(4), 4:6, 6:3. The match lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
Mannarino showed a lot of fluctuations in his game, but his experience prevailed in the decisive moments. The Frenchman was more secure on his serve, winning 90% of his service games, while Vukic struggled significantly more. Although they were statistically very close (Mannarino won 61 points, Vukic 52), the Frenchman capitalized better on key moments, saving three out of four break points, while Vukic managed to convert only a third of his break opportunities. Both players hit 15 winners, but Mannarino tactically outsmarted his opponent in the third set to secure his spot in the next round.
Basilashvili Stops Cilic in Straight Sets
The third match on Center Court brought a duel between Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic and Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili. After one hour and 21 minutes of play, the Georgian celebrated a 6:2, 7:5 victory.
In the first set, Basilashvili was the much better player, dictating the pace and easily winning it 6:2. However, in the second set, Cilic played much more aggressively and was the first to break serve. The experienced Croatian held that advantage until the seventh game, when Basilashvili managed to strike back. The turning point occurred in the 11th game when the Georgian secured another break, and then confidently served out the match.
The statistics clearly show the qualifier’s advantage: Basilashvili recorded 26 winners to Cilic’s 16, and the Georgian was also relentless on the return, winning a massive 63% of points on Cilic’s second serve. Although Marin served eight aces, he also made 30 unforced errors (compared to the Georgian’s 20) and allowed his opponent to convert five out of nine break opportunities, which was too much to overcome.
Kukushkin Postpones Retirement: Spectacular Victory in Two Tie-Breaks
The hometown favorite, Mikhail Kukushkin, made sure his farewell tournament lasts a little longer. In a fantastic and exhausting match that closed the program on Center Court, the experienced Kazakh defeated Greek qualifier Stefanos Sakellaridis with a score of 7:6(4), 7:6(3). The match lasted a total of two hours and 14 minutes of relentless battle.
The crowd had the opportunity to enjoy a true drama full of turnarounds. In the first set, the players exchanged breaks midway through, but Kukushkin showed his immense experience in the tie-break, confidently winning it 7:4. The second set brought even more uncertainty. Sakellaridis took an early break lead, but the Kazakh immediately broke back. At 5:4, Kukushkin served for the match and had match points, but the persistent Greek managed to save the situation, break back, and take the set to another tie-break. However, carried by fantastic support from the stands, Kukushkin once again took control when it mattered most and dominated the deciding game (7:3), securing his spot in the next round.
The statistics perfectly reflect how tense and evenly matched the duel was. Although the young Greek hit more winners (29 to 24) and served nine aces, he paid the price for his aggressive play by making significantly more unforced errors (44 compared to Kukushkin’s 30). The Kazakh ultimately won 91 points to Sakellaridis’s 85, and his stability in the crucial moments of the tie-breaks was the key.
Instead of retiring at the start of the tournament, Kukushkin’s tennis story in Almaty continues!
Argentine Derby on Court 1 Goes to Diaz Acosta
A true South American tennis thriller took place on Court 1, where compatriots from Argentina faced off. Facundo Diaz Acosta managed to turn the match around and defeat the eighth seed, Thiago Agustin Tirante, with a score of 6:7(3), 6:1, 6:4, after two hours and 19 minutes of play.
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