Shevchenko Sends Home Fans Home Happy on Day 2
24-year-old Alexander Shevchenko lit up the Almaty Arena on Tuesday night and came away with a hard-fought victory over Serbia’s Laslo Djere, 7-6(1), 7-6(12).
Shevchenko, the highest-ranked player in this week’s draw for the home nation, came through a nip-and-tuck battle in a battle of former quarterfinalists in Kazakhstan with inspired energy in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Djere, ranked No.79, reached the last eight in Astana in 2021, while Shevchenko was a quarterfinalist here last year. Both players battled to the brink in the most dramatic match of the tournament thus far.
After the first set went to a tiebreak without a single break of serve, 91st-ranked Shevchenko hit his stride, reeling off the first five points, and seven of eight.
Shevchenko broke first in the second set but was pegged back by Djere in the next game, for 3-3. The local favorite would save a set point while serving at 4-5, 30-40, and from there the pair marched to another tiebreak – where the real drama commenced.
With tension at a fever-pitch, Shevchenko saved three more set points in an extremely tense breaker.
Djere, not to be denied, dug in and saved four match points.
It took everything that Shevchenko – and his screaming fans – had to get over the hump. Finally he slashed a forehand drive volley for a winner to end the 26-point tiebreak, clearing the first hurdle in Almaty as he held his arms aloft.
«It feels absolutely incredible,» Shevchenko said. «The crowd was on point today. I think it was the best crowd in Kazakhstan so far, it was just amazing. Without them I would not have done it, they pushed me for every second, I’m really glad and thankful that they came and watched today.»
Expect the same energy tomorrow: Shevchenko will face No.8-seeded Corentin Moutet on Wednesday in Almaty.
«He’s a tricky opponent, and he’s playing some great tennis lately,» Shevchenko said. «I’m down against him – I need to take some revenge – if the crowd supports me like this, anything can happen.»
Shevchenko finished the match with 24 winners against 38 unforced errors, but his 10 aces made life easier for him as he progressed in a wild two hours and six minutes.
Below, find the story of the other four matches that were played on Day 2:
Aleksandar Vukic started a strong day for the Aussies on Day 2 inside the Almaty Arena, logging a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over German qualifier Marko Topo.
22-year-old Topo, bidding for his first career ATP win, made 84th-ranked Vukic work for it, winning four consecutive games in the second set to take a double-break lead before serving out the set to force a decider.
Topo found himself under constant pressure from the 29-year-old in the decider. He saved the first seven break points he faced in the set, but eventually yielded on the eighth as Vukic broke for a 3-1 lead. That game opened the floodgates for the Aussie, who won the final 11 points of the match to book his spot in round two.
«It’s always tough to play a qualifier,» Vukic said on court. «He’s been playing well and had two good wins in qualifying. He played two and a half good sets, credit to him, he’s obviously got a good level and I wish him all the best.
«From my end, the first round [is always tricky], finding the rhythm and finding the game. I found it in the third set and I’m happy I did because otherwise I probably would have lost.»
Adam Walton was the next Aussie through. The world No.76 edged compatriot Tristan Schoolkate, 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-2 to book a second-round clash with No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev.
Walton will look to make it two wins over Medvedev after upsetting the former world No.1 in Cincinnati in three sets in August.
«He’s been playing some great tennis lately — semis in Beijing and Shanghai — so he’s definitely finding his rhythm again,» said the 26-year-old. «I’m looking forward to that one on Thursday.»
Three sets was a recurring theme for the three Aussies who advanced on Tuesday in Almaty.
Lucky loser Rinky Hijikata was pushed to the brink by former ITF junior No.1 Timofey Skatov in the second match on Center Court, and finally came through in three intense sets to set a second-round clash with third-seeded Flavio Cobolli.
Filling in for Nicolas Jarry, who pulled out with an elbow injury, Hijikata found himself locked in an epic tussle with the 24-year-old wild card from Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.
«I was just happy to get another chance to play here,» said Hijikata, who lost to Ugo Blanchet in the final round of qualifying on Sunday. «I thought the tournament was over for me, so I’m happy to get another chance and happy to get the win today.»
The Sydney native took the opening set, but Skatov hit back with inspired tennis to claim two breaks in the second. Skatov rallied from a break down in the third, levelling the decider at three-all, but it was Hijikata who took charge down the stretch, winning 12 of the final 15 points across the final three games to book his spot in round two.
There are lessons to take for Skatov, who says he was disappointed to not finish with a win on home soil.
«I think the main thing to learn from today is how to play the momentum better,» he said. «To recognize the key moments when it’s getting tight, to be a bit more aggressive, not wait too much for the perfect shot, and to try to create more by myself.
«That’s probably the most important lesson from this match.»
American Brandon Nakashima was the highest seed in action on Day 2, and the 24-year-old Southern California gained safe passage into round two on his Almaty debut.
After winning the opening set tiebreak, Nakashima knuckled down early in the second set to expand his lead. First he survived being triple break point down to hold for 1-1, then he came through a six deuce game, converting his second break point to lead 2-1.
Soon, Nakashima pulled away to earn his 31st ATP victory of the season, 7-6(5), 6-2.
«It feels great,» Nakashima said. «It’s my first time here in Kazakhstan and I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s always good to get through the first round so I’m really happy.»
Nakashima will be back at it in Wednesday’s night session, against Fabian Marozsan.
Shevchenko, the highest-ranked player in this week’s draw for the home nation, came through a nip-and-tuck battle in a battle of former quarterfinalists in Kazakhstan with inspired energy in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Djere, ranked No.79, reached the last eight in Astana in 2021, while Shevchenko was a quarterfinalist here last year. Both players battled to the brink in the most dramatic match of the tournament thus far.
After the first set went to a tiebreak without a single break of serve, 91st-ranked Shevchenko hit his stride, reeling off the first five points, and seven of eight.
Shevchenko broke first in the second set but was pegged back by Djere in the next game, for 3-3. The local favorite would save a set point while serving at 4-5, 30-40, and from there the pair marched to another tiebreak – where the real drama commenced.
With tension at a fever-pitch, Shevchenko saved three more set points in an extremely tense breaker.
Djere, not to be denied, dug in and saved four match points.
It took everything that Shevchenko – and his screaming fans – had to get over the hump. Finally he slashed a forehand drive volley for a winner to end the 26-point tiebreak, clearing the first hurdle in Almaty as he held his arms aloft.
«It feels absolutely incredible,» Shevchenko said. «The crowd was on point today. I think it was the best crowd in Kazakhstan so far, it was just amazing. Without them I would not have done it, they pushed me for every second, I’m really glad and thankful that they came and watched today.»
Expect the same energy tomorrow: Shevchenko will face No.8-seeded Corentin Moutet on Wednesday in Almaty.
«He’s a tricky opponent, and he’s playing some great tennis lately,» Shevchenko said. «I’m down against him – I need to take some revenge – if the crowd supports me like this, anything can happen.»
Shevchenko finished the match with 24 winners against 38 unforced errors, but his 10 aces made life easier for him as he progressed in a wild two hours and six minutes.
Below, find the story of the other four matches that were played on Day 2:
Aleksandar Vukic started a strong day for the Aussies on Day 2 inside the Almaty Arena, logging a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over German qualifier Marko Topo.
22-year-old Topo, bidding for his first career ATP win, made 84th-ranked Vukic work for it, winning four consecutive games in the second set to take a double-break lead before serving out the set to force a decider.
Topo found himself under constant pressure from the 29-year-old in the decider. He saved the first seven break points he faced in the set, but eventually yielded on the eighth as Vukic broke for a 3-1 lead. That game opened the floodgates for the Aussie, who won the final 11 points of the match to book his spot in round two.
«It’s always tough to play a qualifier,» Vukic said on court. «He’s been playing well and had two good wins in qualifying. He played two and a half good sets, credit to him, he’s obviously got a good level and I wish him all the best.
«From my end, the first round [is always tricky], finding the rhythm and finding the game. I found it in the third set and I’m happy I did because otherwise I probably would have lost.»
Adam Walton was the next Aussie through. The world No.76 edged compatriot Tristan Schoolkate, 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-2 to book a second-round clash with No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev.
Walton will look to make it two wins over Medvedev after upsetting the former world No.1 in Cincinnati in three sets in August.
«He’s been playing some great tennis lately — semis in Beijing and Shanghai — so he’s definitely finding his rhythm again,» said the 26-year-old. «I’m looking forward to that one on Thursday.»
Three sets was a recurring theme for the three Aussies who advanced on Tuesday in Almaty.
Lucky loser Rinky Hijikata was pushed to the brink by former ITF junior No.1 Timofey Skatov in the second match on Center Court, and finally came through in three intense sets to set a second-round clash with third-seeded Flavio Cobolli.
Filling in for Nicolas Jarry, who pulled out with an elbow injury, Hijikata found himself locked in an epic tussle with the 24-year-old wild card from Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.
«I was just happy to get another chance to play here,» said Hijikata, who lost to Ugo Blanchet in the final round of qualifying on Sunday. «I thought the tournament was over for me, so I’m happy to get another chance and happy to get the win today.»
The Sydney native took the opening set, but Skatov hit back with inspired tennis to claim two breaks in the second. Skatov rallied from a break down in the third, levelling the decider at three-all, but it was Hijikata who took charge down the stretch, winning 12 of the final 15 points across the final three games to book his spot in round two.
There are lessons to take for Skatov, who says he was disappointed to not finish with a win on home soil.
«I think the main thing to learn from today is how to play the momentum better,» he said. «To recognize the key moments when it’s getting tight, to be a bit more aggressive, not wait too much for the perfect shot, and to try to create more by myself.
«That’s probably the most important lesson from this match.»
American Brandon Nakashima was the highest seed in action on Day 2, and the 24-year-old Southern California gained safe passage into round two on his Almaty debut.
After winning the opening set tiebreak, Nakashima knuckled down early in the second set to expand his lead. First he survived being triple break point down to hold for 1-1, then he came through a six deuce game, converting his second break point to lead 2-1.
Soon, Nakashima pulled away to earn his 31st ATP victory of the season, 7-6(5), 6-2.
«It feels great,» Nakashima said. «It’s my first time here in Kazakhstan and I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s always good to get through the first round so I’m really happy.»
Nakashima will be back at it in Wednesday’s night session, against Fabian Marozsan.
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24.11.2025
KTF press-service
14.11.2025
KTF press-service
