–

Denis Shapovalov got another opportunity to make a run, this time at a 500 event in Dubai where he had the unfortunate luck to draw Andy Murray right out of the gates.

Murray, though, had an issue with a cyst bursting in his hip last week, even as he played an absolute marathon of a match in defeat – nearly 3 1/2 hours, three tiebreaks, against eventual finalist Jakub Mensik.

So it remained to be seen how he rocked up. In the end, not too bad as he posted his 500th career hard-court win.

Shapovalov played well overall, but he flinched in the big moments.

WTA Tour – Monday results

(Dubai is 9 hours ahead of ET, Santiago two hours ahead, Acapulco one hour behind).

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Dubai Duty Free Open
Location: Dubai, UAE
Category: ATP Tour 500
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Dates: Feb. 26 – Mar. 2, 2024
Prize money: $3,113,270
Draws: S32 / D16

Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
Final results

Singles, first round

Andy Murray (GBR) def. [PR] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 46 76 (5) 63

Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) def [6] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 76 (3) 75

[2] Andrey Rublev (RUS) def. Zhizhen Zhang (CHN) 67 (4) 62 64

[3] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) def. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 76 (5) 67 (4) 76 (6)

[7] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) def. [Q] Tomas Machac (CZE) 26 63 76 (5)

Tallon Griekspoor (NED) def. [WC] Abdullah Shelbayh (JOR) 75 20 retd

Sebastian Korda (USA) def. Pavel Kotov (RUS) 60 62

Doubles, first round

Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) def. [WC] Michael Agwi / Osgar O’Hoisin (IRL) 60 76 (5)

**********************************

Abierto Mexican Telcel
Location: Acapulco, Mexico
Category: ATP Tour 500
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Dates: Feb. 26 – Mar. 2, 2024
Prize money: $2,377,565
Draws: S32 / D16

Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
Final results

Singles, first round

[Q] Flavio Cobolli (ITA) def. Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 26 63 62

Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) def. [4] Taylor Fritz (USA) 64 46 63

Jack Draper (GBR) def [7] Tommy Paul (USA) 60 64

[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) def. Taro Daniel (JPN) 62 61

Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) def. [WC] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 46 63 61

Sebastian Ofner (AUT) def [WC] Ernesto Escobedo (MEX) 67 (7) 64 76 (4)

Ben Shelton (USA) def. Daniel Evans (GBR) 26 75 76 (5)

Doubles, first round

[1] Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) / Neal Skupski (GBR) def William Blumberg (USA) / Casper Ruud (NOR) 63 62

Helio Heliovaara (FIN) / John Peers (AUS) def [3] Joe Salisbury (USA) / Rinky Hijikata (AUS) [LL] Hans Hach Verdugo (MEX) / Luis David Martinez (VEN) 64 36 [10-7]