Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry ousts Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the Barcelona Open quarter-final. Number thirty-one Norrie was displaced in the quarter-finals by number thirty Etcheverry by his fierce playing.
Etcheverry steamed past Norrie with tie-breaks to win 7 – 6 (7 – 4), 7 – 6 (7 – 1). The first set prompted a break each before Etcheverry held the advantage in the tie-break.
The Argentinian won impressively the second set that went with serve all the way to the tie-break. Etcheverry won 55% (16/29) of points on Norrie’s serve, as he advanced after two hours in both tie-breaks.
Twenty-four year old Etcheverry said after the match, “I spoke to my coach last night and also my team, that I have to play aggressively to win this match. The tie-break was key. I played really good in that part of the match”.
Ruud streams Past Arnaldi To Reach The Semi-Finals
Number six ranked Casper Ruud Romps past number forty ranked Matteo Arnaldi 6 – 4, 6 – 3. Ruud has not lost a match this season when he’s won the opening set.
Ruud hit with precise timing off both wings against Arnaldi, and saved four break points to proceed to the semi-finals, he burrowed in when serving for the match at 5 – 3.
When asked after the match, Ruud said, “It is not easy. You are playing for a spot in the semi-finals. It is something I have not been able to do before in Barcelona. I was getting a bit nervous, which is normal. I was able to come through in the end after a few crazy rallies and didn’t get the best starti the game but got back in it”.
He added, “It was a difficult match. It was back and forth in the beginning, a lot of breaks in the beginning. Feeling our games. I was lucky to break him towards the end of the [first set] and the second set was really tough. Long games and close games and lucky in the end I can stand here as the winner”.
Casper Ruud will challenge Tomas Martin Etcheverry next in the Barcelona Open semi-finals.
Tsitsipas Advances In Barcelona Open
Number seven ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, a three time finalist at ATP 500, has triumphed over number 53 ranked Facundo Diaz Acosta in the quarter-finals where he saved two match points to garner a sensational 4 – 6, 6 – 3, 7 – 6(8) win.
In an electrifying contest Tsitsipas served out the match at 5 – 4 in the third set, but hit two double faults in the game as Diaz Acosta broke back.
Diaz Acosta then fell flat in converting a match point on Tsitsipas’ serve at 5 – 6, before both players saved match points in the third set tie-break.
The Greek saved another match point 6/7 in the tie-break before he converted on his third opportunity to victory.
Diaz Acosta served two costly double faults in the tie-break, after which Tsitsipas collapsed to the court in exultation before rising to his feet to embrace Diaz Acosta.
During a brief interview after the match Tsitsipas stated, “I was coming close [to losing] at certain moments in the match. It seemed like a mountain. I reminded myself that I have a headband that I wear here that has a mountain and that I need to climb it, so it kept me going.”
“It was difficult. It was extremely difficult to sustain the same level throughout the entire match and I think he played incredible. I think he left everything out there. He is a good clay-court player. He has a title on the ATP Tour for a reason and today it was a level he was able to bring out on the court that made it quite obvious”.
Lajovic Heads to Semi-Finals In Defeat of Fils
Number fifty-nine ranked Dusan Lajovic defeats number thirty-six ranked Arthur Fils by managing a route of 6 – 4, 3 – 6, 6 – 2 win to advance to the Barcelona semi-finals.
Lajovic wins only his second ATP Tour semi-finals above 250 level. He will go into the semi-finals to play Tsitsipas.
