ATP Rotterdam: Felix Auger-Aliassime downs Grigor Dimitrov. Monfils and Goffin win

The 19-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the second quarter-final of the season in Rotterdam, beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 17 minutes. The Canadian hasn't played at his best so far in 2020 but it was an excellent performance against the Bulgarian, losing 14 points in nine service games and saving two out of three break chances to keep the pressure on Grigor. The more experienced player defeated Denis Shapovalov in the opener but stood no chance in this one, giving away almost half of the points in his games and suffering four breaks to propel the youngster into the last eight after almost 30 unforced errors. After four convincing holds at the beginning of the match, they scored three back-to-back breaks, two for Felix who moved 4-3 up with a deep return in game seven that Grigor failed to control. Serving for the set at 5-4, the Canadian held at 15 to secure the opener, gaining boost and never looking back in set number two.

There, Auger-Aliassime grabbed a break with a beautiful backhand down the line winner in game three, securing another one at 4-2 when the Bulgarian netted a backhand and sealing the deal with three service winners in the next game for the place in the quarters. Pablo Carreno Busta prevailed against Roberto Bautista Agut in an all-Spanish clash 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 after almost two and a half hours, despite winning six points less than his rival. Bautista Agut dominated in the second set and got broken only once in the entire encounter, still finishing on the losing side as Carreno Busta recovered his game in the final set, serving well and taking the tie break 7-4 to reach the next round. Daniel Evans toppled Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and eight minutes, getting broken twice from as many chances offered to the Russian and stealing the rival's serve three times from seven opportunities to cross the finish line first and stay on the title course.

Karen claimed the opening set with a break in game three and Daniel responded with an early break in set number two for a 6-3, controlling the pace with his slices and keeping Khachanov out of balance. The Briton raced into a 5-1 lead in the decider, wasting two match points on the return in the ninth game before sealing the deal with a hold at 15 in game ten that propelled him through. The 3rd seed and the defending champion Gael Monfils defeated Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes, giving serve away once and taking half of the return points to stay in front all the time after breaking the Portuguese four times from nine chances. David Goffin needed two and a half hours to oust home star Robin Haase 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, standing three points away from the defeat in the second set tie break and bringing victory home with an early break in the decider that kept him safe. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2SpOq3Q