ATP Toronto: Daniil Medvedev, Hubert Hurkacz and Casper Ruud advance

The top seed and the Canada Open finalist from two years ago, Daniil Medvedev, is through to the quarter-final following a 6-2, 6-4 victory over a qualifier James Duckworth in 68 minutes. Daniil hit ten aces and got broken once from the only opportunity offered to the Aussie. The Russian stole almost half of the return points and grabbed four breaks that carried him into the last eight. Medvedev had 20 winners and 15 unforced errors, firing a service winner in 34% of the points behind the initial shot and leaving Duckworth behind in the quickest exchanges up to four strokes. Daniil broke at 2-2 in the opening set with a forehand winner and came from 40-15 down in game seven to grab another return game and extend the advantage. The top seed clinched the opening set with four unreturned serve in the ninth game, hoping for more in set number two. James netted an easy forehand at the beginning of the second set to find himself even further down and came from 40-0 down in game three to avoid a disaster.

Daniil broke again in game five with a perfect backhand crosscourt winner and served for the victory at 5-2. Making one last push, Duckworth pulled one break back and reduced the deficit to 4-5 before Medvedev held with an ace in game ten to seal the deal and remain in the title chase. The 7th seed Hubert Hurkacz toppled Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 38 minutes after a great battle. The Pole lost serve once and started all over after losing a tight opener, where he led 4-1 and had set points. In sets two and three, the Pole grabbed early breaks and defended break chances in the encounter's closing stages to move over the top and advance into the third Masters 1000 quarter-final.

Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz are through to the last eight in Toronto.

After three consecutive ATP titles on clay, Casper Ruud is through to the last eight in Toronto following a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Dusan Lajovic in an hour and 14 minutes. The Norwegian lost 14 points in ten service games and suffered one break to keep the pressure on the other side. He broke the Serb thrice from as many chances and toppled him in both the shortest and more advanced exchanges to sail into the last eight. In a battle of the 8th and 10th seeds, Roberto Bautista Agut fended off three match points versus Diego Schwartzman in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 triumph after two hours and 45 minutes. Schwartzman wasted three match points behind the initial shot at 5-4 in the decider, dropping the last four games to propel the Spaniard through. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/37ATOrD