Bulgaria's national tennis player for the Davis Cup, Alexander Donski, suffered a disappointing defeat in the first round of the prestigious ATP Challenger 50 tournament, which is being held in the capital Sofia. The event, with an impressive prize fund of 54,000 euros, is taking place at the Bulgarian National WINBET Tennis Center, located in the iconic Borisova Garden.
In a competitive match that lasted 2 hours and 25 minutes, Donski lost to his Indian opponent Arian Shah with a final score of 7:5, 4:6, 4:6. The Bulgarian tennis player started promisingly, winning the first set 7:5, despite missing an opportunity for an early break. However, the second set proved more difficult for Donski, who lost his serve in the first game and failed to recover, losing the set 4:6. The decisive third set was extremely competitive, with Shah managing to make a crucial break in the ninth game, which proved sufficient for his victory.
Despite Donski's disappointing performance, Bulgarian fans have reason for optimism. Earlier in the day, two other Bulgarian tennis players - Anas Mazdrashki and Viktor Markov - managed to overcome the qualifications and advance to the main draw of the tournament, giving hope for a better performance by the hosts in the coming days.
The tournament organizers announced that tomorrow will be filled with exciting matches for Bulgarian supporters. Five consecutive matches with Bulgarian participation will take place on the center court, promising to provide spectators with a rich program of high-level tennis. Additionally, to encourage interest in the sport and support local talent, the organizers have provided free entry for all those wishing to watch the matches live.
This tournament is an important step for the development of tennis in Bulgaria and provides a valuable opportunity for local athletes to face international competition on home soil. Despite Donski's early elimination, the coming days promise to bring more exciting moments and potential surprises for Bulgarian tennis fans.