Host country Yusuf Ebrahim Qaed has crashed out of the Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger, part of the ATP Challenger Tour, yesterday (Tuesday) at the Public Security Officers Club in Gudaibiya.
The only Bahraini representative in action on the third day of the championship faced a much stronger competitor, Daniel Michalski, in the last-32 round in the singles event, which ended in favour of the latter in straight sets. Sets scores were 6-1, 6-3.
The last-32 round also featured some dramatic matches as Italy's Salvatore Caruso overcome a shaky start to edge compatriot Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Excitement continued as Aleksandr Brynin of Ukraine came from behind to edge Norwegian Victor Durasovic 6-7(6), 6-1, 7-5, while Australian Alexei Popyrin defeated Otto Virtanen of Finland 7-5, 6-2.
Colin Sinclair of Northern Marina Island also halted a late comeback by Italian Andrea Arnaboldi to clinch a hard-fought 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in another neck-and-neck clash.
Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic also made it into the last-16 round with a tough 2-1 win over Italy's Alessandro Giannissi. Sets scores were 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
Another Italian Francesco Passaro was in action as he defeated his Japanese opponent Kaichi Ochida 6-1, 6-4 to storm into the competition's last-16 stage.
In another match, Abedallah Shelbayah of Jordan extended his outstanding run beating Russia's Bekkhan Atlangerief 6-2, 6-3.
Egypt's Mohamed Safwat journey came to an end after a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Italy's Lorenzo Giustino in a hard-fought match.
Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia was given a hard time by Turkish opponent Yanki Erel before emerging victorious 7-5, 6-1 to secure his berth into the competition's last 16.
Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany also booked a place in the last-16 round after a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian Andrey Chepelev, while Alexandre Muller of France eased past Spaniard Oriol Roca Batalla with a 6-3, 6-1 win.
The doubles event, meanwhile, got underway yesterday with the pair of P. Raja and D. Sharan going down 3-6, 2-6 to the team of M. Neuchrist and Km Uchida.
Action continue today on the fourth day of the tournament with the concluding matches in the last 16 round in the single event, as well as their remaining matches in the men's doubles.
Meanwhile, tournament organisers the Ministry of Interior held a special one-day fun event for the public, which was attended by ATP representative Zuzana Konrad, President of Public Security Sports Association, Colonel Khalid Abdulaziz Al Khayat and other high-ranking officials.
