Big guns explode

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Felix Auger-Aliassime stamped his ticket to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard while Daniil Medvedev put an end to Stan Wawrinka’s tournament.

Canadian top seed Auger-Aliassime overcame the big-serving Frenchman, thanks to an impressive break-point conversion rate as he managed to make the most of three of the five that he forced on Mpetshi Perricard’s serve.

Consecutive breaks in the seventh and ninth games of the opening set allowed the world No. 8 to seize the initiative.

Auger-Aliassime pounced again early in the second set to get his nose in front and then managed to serve out to book a meeting with Jiri Lehecka in the Last Eight.

The Czech eliminated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to progress to the Round of 16.

In a battle of former Grand Slam winners, Russia’s Medvedev beat Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3.

The 40-year-old Swiss will retire at the end of the season and was honored on-court after his defeat.

“It’s my last time here, but I always had amazing support from you guys,” 2016 champion Wawrinka told the crowd.

“It’s always special. The reason why I kept playing for so long is because of those emotions that I receive on court, but I think at 40 it’s time to play for one last year. I’m enjoying it a lot.”

Third seed Medvedev will face Jenson Brooksby in the next round, after the American defeated seventh-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov in straight sets.

Britain’s Jack Draper lost in three sets to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to cut short his return to the ATP circuit.

Draper was appearing in his first tournament since pulling out at the US Open in August. His only match before Monday’s first-round win came in the Davis Cup earlier this month.

Rinderknech edged past Draper 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 to line up a meeting with Doha semi-finalist Andrey Rublev, who continued a fine Middle East swing by battling through 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 against France’s Ugo Humbert.

Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan was beaten by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as the second seed fell to just his fourth defeat of the season.

World No. 25 Griekspoor will next face Jakub Mensik after the Czech sixth seed eased past Alexei Popyrin for the loss of just five games.