Only one of the top five seeds will have advanced to the National Bank Open quarter-finals. That survivor is Casper Ruud.
Posted at 4:52 p.m.
Updated at 9:29 p.m.
The Norwegian defeated the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets of 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) and 6-4 after a particularly long and close match, Thursday afternoon, at IGA Stadium.
This is the second time in as many years and appearances at the Montreal tournament that Ruud has reached the quarter-finals. Last year, he faced Stefanos Tsitsipas. This time, he will face the crowd favourite: Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Casper Ruud, 23, has never had the upper hand over Bautista Agut before, the two players having faced each other only twice so far in their careers. Their duel was also the first of the day on center court; it started at noon, but didn’t end until late afternoon.
The first run alone stretched over 1 hour and 13 minutes. With a break each in their pocket, Bautista Agut and Ruud had to fight for a tiebreaker. Perhaps nervous, the young Norwegian sent the ball into the net twice; the first inning went to his opponent.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Roberto Bautista Agut
But the 7e world racket had not said its last word. We had another tight round as possible. This time around, the Norwegian had the upper hand in long tiebreaker rallies, bringing both players back to square one.
Despite his 40 winning strokes, Casper Ruud had 29 unforced errors, against 21 for his opponent, when starting the final round. Final round which was quickly interrupted by driving rain, which forced everyone to leave the field for about thirty minutes.
On the return, Ruud had some difficulty returning his opponent’s serves, but was quick to regain his senses. While leading 5-3, Ruud missed three chances to close the books. The Spaniard refused to give up, even motioning for the crowd to make more noise. It was finally in the next game that the Norwegian confirmed his victory.
Kyrgios rushes to the quarter-finals
As Ruud and Bautista Agut’s match dragged on for several hours, the next clash was moved to related ground. This clash was the all-Australian one between Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur. And it didn’t last very long…
In the aftermath of his victory over world number 1 Daniil Medvedev, Kyrgios needed only an hour and 4 minutes to put his compatriot out of his way.
“It was extremely difficult. I felt bad all day, very nervous, he said after the duel. Obviously, it’s not easy to play against one of your good friends and one of your compatriots. »
“I executed my game plan extremely well today. I think it was a dangerous match for me because if I didn’t play the right way… […] It’s a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. »
Kyrgios is therefore continuing its pluperfect North American summer, which has been illustrating a real renaissance for the past few months, after two dark years weighed down by depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I think I’m very confident and just playing well,” he explained. Even though I’m tired, I hit the ball very well. I serve well. »
Formidable in power and efficiency, he took his compatriot by the throat from the outset, breaking him twice in a row. He then succeeded in almost everything he undertook, whether from the baseline or on the fly.
The start of the second set was slightly more contested, De Minaur taking advantage of a release from his opponent to break in turn. But Kyrgios immediately recovered by taking the serve in stride, to then increase his advantage with a double break.
“Right now I feel like people are a little nervous to play me because I’m playing so well,” he said. I have to use this to my advantage. I’ve been through so much. I have so much gas in the tank. I know, deep down, what I’m playing for. There are many things that continue to motivate me. »
In the quarter-finals, Kyrgios will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, 10e in the world.
“He’s one of the best players we have,” Kyrgios said.
“Listen, I’m excited. I just want to eat and go to bed, he added in his usual frankness. But yes, whatever happens tomorrow will happen. »
With Agence France-Presse