BARCELONA OPEN BANC SABADELL—Barcelona, Spain
Friday’s action at the Barcelona Open saw No. 3 seed Casper Ruud and No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas inch closer to a rematch of their final in Monte Carlo.
First up, Ruud needed two sets to get past Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3.
The Norwegian hit two aces and broke serve on four occasions.
Up next on court, Tsitsipas used his clay-court guile and recent form to oust Facundo Diaz Acosta 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(8). Saving two match points, Tsitsipas will be looking to win his second title this weekend.
The Greek Star will next face Dusan Lajovic for a place in Sunday’s Final.
In other results, No. 13 Tomas Martin Etcheverry reached the semifinals after dispatching No. 12 seed Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 7-6(1).
*****
BMW OPEN—Munich, Germany
Hard-hitting American Taylor Fritz reached the semifinals of the BMW Open on Friday, defeating Jack Draper 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(1).
Needing two hours and 15 minutes to prevail, Fritz will next face Cristian Garin. The Chilean upset top seed and hometown favourite Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4 later in the day.
Elsewhere, two-time defending champion Holger Rune kept his unbeaten streak at the event alive, dismissing Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-4, 7-6(3).
The day’s final quarterfinal match was pushed until Saturday because of poor conditions. No. 5 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime will take on Jan-Lennard Struff. The winner will have to return later in the day to face Rune.
*****
TIRIAC OPEN—Bucharest, Romaina
Brazilian upstart Joao Fonseca had his surge up the rankings halted on Friday in Bucharest, Romaina, losing to No. 4 seed Alejandro Tabilo 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4.
The 17-year-old, whose game is tailer-made for the clay, will look to rebound at next week’s Mutua Madrid Open in Spain.
Tabilo, who will be vying for his second title of the season this weekend, is up to a career high of No. 38 in the world.
In other results, top seed Francisco Cerundolo, No. 8 seed Pedro Martinez, and Marton Fucsovics all reached the semifinals.
Cerundolo and Martinez were forced to win twice on Friday, after rain cancelled their second-round matches on Thursday.
*****
Watch all the action live this week from the ATP Tour on Tennis TV.
Get ready for the year’s second Major today, with great tickets to the French Open in Paris. Nadal is set to take part in his most successful event for perhaps the last time in his illustrious career.
