Alexei Popyrin defeated in Dubai Championships, Ajla Tomljanović wins in Texas

Australian player Alexei Popyrin, ranked 27th in the world, was unfortunately eliminated from the Dubai Championships after losing to a resurgent Marin Čilić. In this round of 32 match, Popyrin won the first set but ultimately succumbed to the 2014 US Open champion Čilić with a score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

This marks Čilić's second consecutive victory over a higher-ranked Australian player in Dubai. He previously defeated world number eight Alex de Minaur in a three-set battle on Tuesday. It was a disappointing day for Australian tennis overall, as another player, Chris O'Connell, after successfully advancing, also lost to Matteo Berrettini with a score of 7-6(2), 6-2.

Popyrin had previously endured a season opening plagued by injuries and illness, failing to secure a win in his first four events. After defeating Lebanese player Hady Habib, Popyrin had hoped to achieve good results on the ATP tour and boost his confidence. He gained an early advantage by breaking Čilić's serve at the end of the first set.

However, as De Minaur experienced the previous day, Čilić, whose world ranking has dropped to 186, regained his form and played at his best. The Croatian player underwent knee surgery last May and returned four months later ranked 777th in the world, winning the Hangzhou Open and becoming the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history. He launched a strong comeback in the second set, withstanding two break points at 2-2 and breaking Popyrin's serve in the sixth game. In the decisive set, his service game was rock solid, and he seized the opportunity to break in the fifth game, ultimately sealing the victory. Čilić will face Canadian player Félix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals, who previously defeated Portuguese player Nuno Borges with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Top seed Daniil Medvedev stated that he didn't even have time to think about how to return Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard's powerful serves, but he still managed to win a hard-fought victory with a score of 6-4, 6-4. "You have zero time, so it's pure reflex, sometimes it makes life easier because you don't think too much," Medvedev said of his 21-year-old opponent's weapon. "If you don't return it, you're not even disappointed! You just try your best – and I did quite well today." Medvedev will next face Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor, who eliminated defending champion Ugo Humbert with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Australian player Ajla Tomljanović continues to maintain good form in the United States. Tomljanović advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Austin, Texas, defeating British player Jodie Anna Burrage in three sets. Tomljanović lost the first set but then rallied in the second half of the match to win with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. The previous day, Tomljanović defeated American seventh seed Katie Volynets. She will next face another Australian player, Kim Birrell, or Japanese player Ena Shibahara.