Cameron Norrie blasts into Rio Open quarter-finals, Casper Ruud sets Stefanos Tsitsipas date in Los Cabos
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Updated 23/02/2024 at 14:37 GMT
Defending Rio Open champion Cameron Norrie's impressive title defence continued with a rapid win over Tomas Barrios Vera. The British No. 1 will face Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild for a place in the semi-finals next and is the highest-ranked player left in the draw following Carlos Alcaraz's retirement. In Los Cabos, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas set up a semi-final tie.
Highlights: Norrie advances to Rio Open quarter-finals with big win over Barrios Vera
Cameron Norrie stormed into the quarter-finals of the Rio Open with a resounding straight-sets win over Tomas Barrios Vera.
The British No. 1 completed a 6-1 6-1 victory in just 59 minutes to set up a tie with home favourite Thiago Seyboth Wild next.
Second seed Norrie is the defending champion in Brazil and found his form on a night where he struck 21 winners, made just eight unforced errors and broke his opponent’s serve six times.
"I really played well and I was really accurate," said Norrie. "I hit close to the lines and was very disciplined on the return. I enjoyed it."
He added: "I'm going to keep focusing on myself and my level and I want to make sure to keep taking care of my matches like that."
Norrie has dropped just seven games in his two matches so far in Rio after comfortably beating Hugo Dellien in his opening match.
He is now the player to beat going into the last eight, following the retirement of top seed and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz through injury earlier in the tournament.
Norrie's meeting with Seyboth Wild will be a career first, after the Brazilian saw off Jaume Munar 6-3 4-6 6-3.
The winner of their meeting will face Joao Fonseca or Mariano Navone in the semi-finals.
On the other side of the draw, fifth seed Sebastien Baez defeated Buenos Aires champion Facundo Diaz Acosta in straight sets to set up a tie against Brazilian wild card Thiago Monteiro.
Fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo will face Dusan Lajovic in the other quarter-final.
In Los Cabos, Casper Ruud moved into the semi-finals to continue an impressive week with a 6-3 6-2 win over Nuno Borges.
There he will face Stefanos Tsitsipas, who overcame Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6(1) 6-3.
The winner of that match will face top seed Alexander Zverev or Jordan Thompson in the final, following their respective victories over Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex Michelsen.
In Doha, 18-year-old sensation Jakub Mensik continued his dream week by knocking out top seed Andrey Rublev.
The Czech youngster, who made headlines by beating Andy Murray in a three hour, 23 minute epic in the second round, defeated the world No. 5 6-4 7-6(6) to reach his first tour-level semi-final.
"It's just been an incredible week from the beginning I played very well and I knew I could play with the big players. It's an amazing feeling to reach the semi-finals after beating those good players,” Mensik said.
"But the job is not done yet. Hopefully I can play like this again in the semis tomorrow and go on to make the final."
Mensik will face Gael Monfils for a place in the final, while Alexei Popyrin will take on Karen Khachanov in the other semi after their wins over Alexander Bublik and Emil Ruusuvuori respectively.
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