Ruud Races Past Andujar In Buenos Aires
Ruud Races Past Andujar In Buenos Aires
Norwegian to face Cecchinato or Carballes Baena in second round
Casper Ruud made a fast start to his Argentina Open campaign on Monday, beating Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-3 to reach the second round in Buenos Aires.
The 21-year-old, who is aiming to capture his maiden ATP Tour title this week, struck six aces and broke serve on three occasions to advance after 72 minutes. Ruud reached his maiden tour-level championship match on clay at last year’s Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston and reached two further ATP Tour semi-finals on the surface in 2019 (Sao Paulo, Kitzbühel).
Ruud improves to 3-3 this season, adding to career-best wins at the ATP Cup. Representing Team Norway in Perth, the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier beat two Top 20 players — Fabio Fognini and John Isner — to open his 2020 ATP Tour season at the innovative team competition.
The eighth seed will meet defending champion Marco Cecchinato or Roberto Carballes Baena for a spot in the quarter-finals. Cecchinato defeated Diego Schwartzman in last year’s championship match to earn his third ATP Tour crown.
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Thiago Monteiro booked a second-round clash against fourth seed Borna Coric in the Argentine capital. The 25-year-old Brazilian saved 10 of 11 break points to move past Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-3.
In other action, six-time ATP Tour clay-court titlist Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay dismissed Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4. Cuevas will next meet seventh seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain or home wild card Leonardo Mayer.
Home favourite Federico Delbonis also advanced, beating Bolivian Hugo Dellien 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 and will meet top-seeded countryman Diego Schwartzman in the second round. Schwartzman fell in the Cordoba Open final to Chile’s Cristian Garin on Sunday.