Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas showed resilience at the Almaty Open, overcoming Aleksandar Kovacevic in a tough three-set battle to secure his spot in the second round. The former World No. 3, known for his powerful game, clinched the victory with a 7-6(9), 3-6, 6-3 scoreline in a two-hour indoor match.

Tsitsipas demonstrated impressive mental fortitude, saving three crucial set points in the first-set tie-break against an opponent who had previously defeated him. Reflecting on his win, Tsitsipas credited his persistence and patience, acknowledging Kovacevic's exceptional serving. He praised Kovacevic's improved performance, wishing him the best for the future.

This win marks Tsitsipas's 35th victory of the season, maintaining his strong form. He is now set to face local wild card Mikhail Kukushkin in the next round. Kukushkin, playing his final professional event, will be a challenging opponent, though Tsitsipas holds a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head encounters.

Meanwhile, other prominent players also advanced. Karen Khachanov, another former Top-10 player, easily defeated Rei Sakamoto 6-2, 6-4. Top seed Daniil Medvedev will play Sho Shimabukuro, who rallied past Roman Safiullin. Fabian Marozsan also moved on, setting up a clash with third seed Alexander Bublik.

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