Russia's Daniil Medvedev said he hopes his 6-2,6-4 win over Egor Gerasimov in Marseille can be the start of another long winning run following a blip in Rotterdam.
The Australian Open finalist's shock defeat by Serbian Dusan Lajovic at Rotterdam last week was only his second loss in 22 matches.
"It's time to build a new streak, a new dynamic," said the Russian, who will move up one place to No. 2 in the world rankings on Monday.
"That's why tennis is sometimes good and sometimes bad. When you lose first round, you have next week to try to win the tournament.
"But when you win a lot of matches in a row, you can lose a few first rounds and then you are feeling like you're playing very bad. You always have to remember good moments."
Medvedev faces 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner in the Marseille quarter-finals.
"That's a tough draw. I could definitely have an easier draw with playing Egor straightaway and Jannik in the quarters," he added.
Regardless of the result, he will be the first player outside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to be ranked in the top two since Nadal overtook Lleyton Hewitt to become number two in 2005.
Belinda Bencic is through to another Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final after eliminating reigning champion Elena Rybakina in a pulsating contest. The Swiss star will now meet Ashlyn Krueger, who defeated Linda Noskova in straight sets, in Saturday's final.
The Desert Vipers defeated the Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 Qualifier 2 clash bowling exceptionally well and followed it up with a scintillating batting display to cruise to a seven-wicket win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Manchester United clawed back from a goal down to beat Leicester City in a 2-1 fourth-round FA Cup victory on Friday at Old Trafford, thanks to a last-gasp controversial header from veteran defender Harry Maguire plus a strike from Joshua Zirkzee.
Clubs worldwide spent a record $2.35 billion on international transfers in men's soccer in the January window, nearly a 58 per cent increase from last year, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in a study published on Friday.
FIFA has suspended the Congo Republic's football association (FECOFOOT) and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), barring both from international competitions, the world soccer's governing body has said.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai will meet with a group of young humanitarians at a ceremony on February 23, as part of the Arab Hope Makers initiative.
The UAE Floating Hospital in Al-Arish has admitted around 30 patients from Gaza since the start of the ceasefire and the resumption of medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing, as part of the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
The UAE on Friday strongly condemned a shooting at an adult education centre in Sweden that killed 11 people, expressing solidarity with the victims' families.