Grigor Dimitrov upset Casper Ruud 6-3 7-5 in 1 hours and 31 minutes on Court Rainier III to reach the quarter finals for the fourth time at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Dimitrov had previously reached two quarter finals in 2013 and 2015 and the semifinals in 2018 iin Monte-Carlo.
Dimitrov has drawn level to 1-1 in his two head-to-head matches against Ruud. The Bulgarian player set up a quarter final match against last year’s Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz, who beat Albert Ramos Vinolas 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.
Dimitrov earned a double break in the third and fifth game to take a 5-1 lead. Ruud pulled one break back in the seventh game in the eighth game for 3-5. Dimitrov sealed the first set 6-3 with his third break in the ninth game.
Both players went on serve with no break points on serve until the 12th game when Dimitrov earned the decisive break on his third match point.
“I was really looking forward to the match. I knew if I did the right things, good things would come out of it. Casper is such a great player on whatever surface. He has proved it over and over again at a such a young age, which is nice to see. He has proved it over and over again at such a young age, which is nice to see. I liked that matchup and wanted to see where I was physically and mentally. I just played and enjoyed the game”, said Dimitrov.
Taylor Fritz has reached the quarter final of the past Masters 1000 tournaments after a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win over Sebastian Korda. Fritz is the first US player to reach the quarter final in Monte-Carlo since Sam Querey in 2008.
The first set went on serve with no breaks of serve en route to the tie-break. Fritz went up a 2-0 lead with his first mini-break. Korda broke back to draw level to 2-2. Fritz won the final four points fom 3-4 down with two mini-breaks to take a 7-4 lead.
Fritz broke serve to love in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Korda broke straight back to draw level to 4-4. Fritz sealed the second set 7-5 with a break in the 11th game.
Fritz set up a quarter final clash against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who cruised past David Goffin 6-4 6-1.
“I thought the match today was pretty good. I was looking out for his return. I did a good job serving, mixing up all my spots. I fought off his returns on my second serves, which was my main focus. It was really good conditions today, so I was able to play what I felt what was my best match”, said Fritz.
