ACAPULCO, March 1 (Xinhua) — Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel reached the ATP 500 Mexican Open quarterfinals by ousting world No. 4 Casper Ruud 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5) on Wednesday.
The A hundred and twenty fifth-ranked Daniel saved two match factors in opposition to the Norwegian second seed to prevail in two hours and 58 minutes on the Fairmont Acapulco Princess resort.
“I felt like I was really playing against Casper at a high level,” Daniel stated. “I mean obviously he’s still coming back [from an ankle injury suffered in January]. He’s a bit rusty but I still had to win it.”
Daniel’s subsequent opponent might be Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur, who breezed previous Italian Jacopo Berrettini 6-1, 6-0.
Others to progress to the spherical of 16 of the hardcourt occasion on Wednesday included Americans Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Mackenzie McDonald, in addition to Italian Matteo Berrettini,
Fritz beat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 whereas Paul overcame countryman Michael Mmoh, who was pressured to withdraw due to an harm when his opponent led 6-4, 2-2.
McDonald, in the meantime, routed compatriot Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-0 and Matteo Berrettini defeated Swede Elias Ymer 6-3, 6-3.