Before the start of this season, Facundo Díaz Acosta He had won only two matches on the most important circuit in men’s tennis. But in this 2024, he exploded. And after breaking several barriers on the South American clay court tour – including his first title, at the Argentina Open -, he is having a great week at the ATP 500 de Barcelonawhere this Thursday he got into the top eight.
The left-hander born in La Lucila achieved a great victory against Fabian Marozsan, 39th in the world and who had been one of the great surprises of the Miami Masters 1000. The Hungarian – executioner of Holger Rune (7th) and Alex De Miñaur (10th) in the Florida competition – took the first set, but the Argentine reacted, winning 3-6, 6-3 and 6-1 , in one hour and 46 minutes, and will play his first quarterfinals of an ATP tournament outside of Argentina.
Whoever also secured their best ranking, 46th place, will have a difficult challenge in that instance, but with a double prize. He will face Stefanos Tsitsipasfifth seed and champion last week in Monte Carlo, who defeated the Spaniard 7-5 and 6-3 Roberto Carballes Baena. If he manages to hit the Greek, number seven in the world, he will get into the semis and reach the top 40 for the first time.
Marozsan set the pace in the opening set, in which he got two breaks. The first to zero, in the fifth game, to go ahead 3-2. And the second, in the ninth game, again without giving up any points, to close the initial chapter.
Far from collapsing, Díaz Acosta, currently ranked 53rd in the ranking, started the second round with a breakprotected his serve without granting any chance of a break and forced the third set, after stealing his rival’s serve again in the ninth game (6-3).
And in the final partial, he was clearly dominant. He won 13 of the 15 points he played with his first serve, he didn’t give away any break point and he converted two of the four break chances he had, to take the set without problems.
Díaz Acosta made sure to climb to 46th place in the ranking. Photo Twitter
Díaz Acosta stretched out his great week in the Count of Godóin which he debuted with a resounding victory against the Spanish Daniel Rinconcoming from the qualyand in the second round he surprised the Croatian Borna Coric32nd in the world, in what was his first celebration against a top 50 outside of Argentina.
Last year, he beat in Buenos Aires Federico Coria (then 49th) on debut. And in the last edition of the Buenos Aires tournament, he surprised in the second round Francisco Cerúndolo (22nd) and then in the final to the Chilean Nicholas Jarry (21°).
Do withPan American champion in Santiago 2023 and classified virtually to the Paris Olympic Games (gold opened the door for him, but he will have to wait for the Olympic ranking to close to see if he can use the quota), he joined Barcelona in the quarterfinals Tomas Etcheverry.
The man from La Plata, 13th favorite, who beat the American Brandon Nakashima and now he will go against the British Cameron Norrie12° preclassified.
Ruud’s victory and Fils’ surprise
The round of 16 matchday in Barcelona also left the logical victory of Casper Ruudthird favorite, and an unexpected celebration of Arthur Sonwho went down to Alex De Miñaur.
Ruud did not break much sweat to seal his place in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time. The Norwegian, world number six and finalist in Monte Carlo last week, defeated the Australian 6-1, 6-4 Jordan Thompson in one hour and 12 minutes.
“I’m playing better compared to last year. Tomorrow I will play in the quarterfinals here in Barcelona, my best result so far, and I hope to go further. Game by game, but I hope to continue competing here this weekend,” Ruud was excited. , who will now collide with the Italian Matteo Arnaldiwinner of Marco Trungelliti.
Fils, meanwhile, beat De Miñaur 7-5 and 6-2, 11th in the world, who had just defeated the Spanish in the previous round Rafael Nadalthe undisputed king of brick dust.
The Frenchman, 19 years old and 36th in the ranking, is one of the great stars of the Next Gen y He will play the quarterfinals in an ATP 500 for the second time in his career. His rival in that instance will be the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, who won 7-6 (12-10), 3-6 and 6-1 against the Spanish Alexander Davidovich Fokina11° preclassified.
2024-04-18 19:50:55
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