Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 March 2021 | Leigh Rogers

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Alexei Popyrin and Matt Ebden are the last remaining Aussies in the Dubai men’s singles draw.

Alex de Minaur lost a three-set battle against France’s Jeremy Chardy in the second round of the ATP 500 tournament last night, while John Millman, Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell were all eliminated in the opening round.

De Minaur faced only two break points in his match – but lost both, with world No.53 Chardy taking his chances to record victory in one hour and 44 minutes.

Popyrin, who is on a six-match winning streak, plays eighth seed Karen Khachanov in the second round. It is the 21-year-old’s first career meeting against the No.22-ranked Russian.

Ebden, who received an opening-round bye following his semifinal run in Marseille last week, faces fourth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. The world No.11 has won both of his previous meetings against Ebden.

Aussies in action – Dubai

RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
[Q] Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) d John Millman (AUS) 6-4 6-4
[Q] Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 7-6(5)
[Q] Lloyd Harris (RSA) d [Q] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1

Men’s singles, second round
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) d [9] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 2-6 6-3 6-4

COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
Matthew Ebden (AUS) v [4] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
[WC] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [8] Karen Khachanov (RUS)

Men’s doubles, first round
Jordan Thompson (AUS)/Henri Kontinen (FIN) v Kevin Krawietz (GER)/Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Former world No.2 Vera Zvonareva has beaten Australia’s Arina Rodionova in the opening round of a WTA 500 tournament in St. Petersburg.

Rodionova had qualified for the event with two straight-sets victories, but proved no match for 36-year-old Zvonareva.

Aussies in action – St. Petersburg

RESULTS
Women’s singles, first round
[WC] Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d [Q] Arina Rodionova (AUS) 6-1 6-3

COMING UP
Women’s doubles, first round
Arina Rodionova (AUS)/Rosalie Van der Hoek (NED) v Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)/Yana Sizikova (RUS)