Audio By Carbonatix
Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon preparations suffered a blow as the world number one lost to 45th-ranked Alexander Bublik in the Halle Open second round.
Defending champion Sinner lost 3-6 6-3 6-4 to Kazakhstan's Bublik - his worst defeat by ranking since August 2023.
It is the first time Sinner has lost to someone other than world number two Carlos Alcaraz since August 2024.
The loss also ended the Italian's 66 match-winning streak against opponents outside of the top 20.
French Open champion Coco Gauff also suffered a surprise defeat in her first match of the grass-court season, losing 6-3 6-3 to China's Wang Xinyu at the Berlin Open.
World number 48 Wang ended Gauff's seven-match winning run just 12 days after her Roland Garros triumph.
Elsewhere in Berlin, world number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Swiss Rebeka Masarova 6-2 7-6 (8-6) in a match that took place across two days.
The Belarusian took the first set on Wednesday before bad light forced play to be suspended.
Sabalenka, beaten by Gauff in the French Open final, returned on Thursday and came back from a break down to wrap up a straight-set win.
Sabalenka will face Kazakh Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals after the former Wimbledon champion beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Marketa Vondrousova, who won the Wimbledon title in 2023, beat Russian Diana Shnaider 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.
Elsewhere at the Halle Open, Russian Andrey Rublev was another big name to fall, failing to convert two match points in a 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) loss to Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
But German world number three Alexander Zverev recovered to beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
Latest Stories
-
“I’m not sure” – K.T Hammond unsure if OSP has questioned Kwabena Donkor over Berko bribery case
3 hours -
Istanbul trip was standard due diligence for Aksa power deal – K.T. Hammond
3 hours -
Kwabena Donkor never met Asante Berko, demanded or received money – K.T. Hammond
3 hours -
$1m bribery scheme: ‘I’m not so instructed’ – Lawyer on whether OSP has contacted Kwabena Donkor
3 hours -
Kwabena Donkor can’t be held liable for Asante Berko’s alleged corruption – KT Hammond
3 hours -
Ghana’s refining capacity yet to shield fuel market from global shocks – CEMSE
3 hours -
New train service connects Finland and Sweden for first time in decades
4 hours -
Tonto Dikeh unveils new ministry
4 hours -
Honey, they’ve shrunk our Mars Bars
4 hours -
Ho Teaching Hospital Board urges government to operationalise Korean Exim Bank loan
4 hours -
AKSA Energy case: Emails, names of recipients key to proving Ghanaian officials’ involvement – Kpebu
4 hours -
Luv FM Kel-Charcoal Debate kicks off with thrilling wins for Wesley Girls and CHRISSEC
5 hours -
No Roof, no future: Ghana’s rent crisis is turning survival into a luxury
5 hours -
Domestic violence in Ghana: The crisis behind close doors
5 hours -
AKSA Energy case: Ghana has evidence to trigger own accountability process – Osae-Kwapong
5 hours