2023-07-28 01:38:34
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Casper Ruud struck back following being “destroyed” in the first set and defeated Christian Garin on Thursday at the Hamburg Open on clay.
Meanwhile, Daniel Altmaier stunned Andrey Rublev in the second round.
In the women’s branch, the local Noma Noha Akugue reached the semifinals in her first tournament on the WTA Tour.
Ruud, a French Open finalist, came from behind to triumph 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to earn a place in the quarterfinals. The match turned out to be much more difficult than the ranking positions of the two opponents would have allowed.
The Norwegian is fourth and the Chilean is number 120. But Garín, who was coming off qualifying, had won five clay-court titles before recent fitness problems and various injuries.
In addition, the Chilean had won three of his four previous duels once morest Ruud. The first set was completely for Garín, who broke his rival’s serve in the first game.
But a break by Ruud, at 2-2 during the second set, opened the door for a comeback.
“I was destroyed in the first set. I didn’t really have anything that might challenge his game,” Ruud acknowledged. “I’m very happy to have stayed in the fight until the end.”
Ruud’s opponent in the quarterfinals will be 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils.
Rublev (seeded No. 2) fell unexpectedly to Altmaier in a 75-minute match. Altmaier will face Zhang Zhicheng for a ticket to the semifinals.
Lorenzo Musetti, champion of this contest last year, beat Jozef Kovalik 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a match that had been suspended on Wednesday in the second round.
Noka Akugue, 19, is making quite an impression, at a pageant she attended as a guest. Born in suburban Hamburg, she wept following earning her ticket to the semis with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win over Martina Trevisan.
1690508643
#Suffered #victory #Ruud #surprise #defeat #Rublev #Hamburg
