Eighth seed Casper Ruud reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal when he downed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 on the French Open on Monday.
Norway's Ruud, who will face 19-year-old Holger Rune - he beat final 12 months's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas - on Wednesday, overcame a short fightback from his twelfth seeded opponent to realize one of many targets he had set for himself this season.
"It feels nice, it was certainly one of my targets this 12 months. I really feel extra skilled enjoying finest of 5 units," stated Ruud, the primary Norwegian within the final eight at Roland Garros.
"Hubert has improved lots on clay, he has change into a harmful participant on all surfaces; he has a harmful serve, however I did effectively at returning it right now."
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After an early commerce of breaks, Ruud stole his opponent's serve once more to go 3-1 up as Hurkacz double-faulted.
He left no room for hope to the Pole, making solely two unforced errors earlier than bagging the set because the twelfth seed buried a forehand into the web.
A high quality backhand winner down the road gave him the break and a 2-0 lead within the second set, which was one other straightforward affair for Ruud as Hurkacz nonetheless needed to discover his vary on serve.
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The Pole awakened within the third set, and it was a distinct story, with a number of spectacular exchanges on the web.
Hurkacz peppered the courtroom with winners and he was rewarded with a break for 4-2 and held all through to cut back the arrears.
He stole Ruud's serve instantly to take command of the fourth set, just for the Norwegian to battle again for 2-2 with a crosscourt passing shot winner.
Ruud broke decisively for 4-2 as Hurkacz made yet one more forehand error.
The Pole saved a match level at 5-2 however bowed out on the second when Ruud fired a crosscourt forehand winner.
