By Tennis Now | Thursday, July 19, 2018
Casper Ruud pulled off a coming-of-age victory, while Fabio Fognini was just happy to stay alive in Båstad.
Photo credit: SkiStar Swedish Open Facebook
Casper Ruud pulled off a coming-of-age victory, while Fabio Fognini was just happy to stay alive in Båstad.
The 19-year-old Ruud reeled off nine straight games transforming a 3-5 deficit into a 7-5, 6-2, upset defending champion David Ferrer.
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The seventh-seeded Spaniard, who claimed three Båstad championships (2007, 2012 and 2017) fired his inside-out forehand with aggression establishing the early lead.
Once Ruud found his range and rhythm he rolled stunning the world No. 39 in 76 minutes.
The biggest victory of Ruud's career is a major blow for former French Open finalist Ferrer, who will fall to No. 53 in the rankings, dropping out of the ATP Top 50 for the first time since January of 2005.
Ruud, whose best result is a Rio semifinal appearance in February 2017, will face Richard Gasquet for a place in the final four.
The fourth-seeded Frenchman hit nine aces and saved 13 of 17 break points rallying past Gerald Melzer, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Fognini fought from behind fending off Swedish wild card Mikael Ymer, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
"If I have to say something, I'm not happy about my performance," Fognini said afterward. "But, you know, first match is always difficult. He played home. So I was trying to do my best and at the end I think I was better than him."
The third-seeded Italian takes on Federico Delbonis for a semifinal spot.
The Argentinian left hander broke serve four times defeating Australian John Millman, 6-4, 6-4.
The 15th-ranked Fognini has won three of five prior meetings with Delbonis.