On Wednesday, all of the quarterfinalists for the ATP 500 hard-court event in Acapulco were determined. Casper Ruud, seeded second, did not win his duel, losing two match points and losing to Taro Daniel.

The incredible match was watched by fans as they opened day three of the Mexican Open Championship. In the decisive moments of the third set, Taro Daniel, ranked 125th in the ATP rankings, saved two match points in the 12th game and led to the tie-break. In this match he proved to be better than Casper Ruud and eventually beat the fourth Norwegian in the world 7:5, 2:6, 7:6 (5).

After the nearly three-hour battle was over, the joy of the representative of the Land of the Rising Sun was immense. It was his first career victory against a Top 10 player. Although he beat Novak Djokovic of Indian Wells (2018), the Serb, then operated on his elbow, was then the 13th rocket on the globe.

“I think each time those wins are more like mine. The first time I beat Djokovic, I kind of felt like he wasn’t playing very well. But this time I felt like I was really playing against Casper at a high level. Of course it always comes back [po problemach z mięśniami brzucha – przyp. red.] and it’s a little rusty. But I still had to win. It was a physical battle with a great atmosphere in the stands – confessed a delighted Daniel (quoted by ATP), who will face Alex de Minaur on Thursday. The Australian beat Jacopo Berrettini 6-1, 6-0.

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The victory was taken by Jacopo’s older brother, Matteo Berrettini. The Roman, more experienced in the circuit, won with the Swede Elias Ymer 6:3, 6:3. On Thursday, the Italian has a more serious task ahead of him. Holger Rune, seeded “four”, will stand in his way. The talented Dane quickly dealt Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6:0, 6:2.

Even if only the second round matches are behind us, it is already certain that the American will perform well in the final on Saturday. This will happen because there are four US representatives left in the top half. Playing with the “three”, Taylor Fritz won with Denis Shapovalov 6:4, 6:4 and improved the still unfavorable record of the duels with the Canadian to 3-5. In the quarterfinals, his opponent will be Frances Tiafoe, who beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 7-6(6). Fritz has won five straight with “Big Foe” and is 5-1 with them.

The final quarter-final duo was formed by Mackenzie McDonald and Tommy Paul. The two didn’t spend much time on the court on Wednesday. Number seven Paul ended the game early as Michael Mmoh retired at 4-6, 2-2 with a right leg injury. Mackie beat Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-0. Thus, on Thursday, McDonald will be able to avenge Paul for the defeat suffered in the first round of the competition in Acapulco during the 2020 season.

Abierto Mexicano TelcelAcapulco (Mexico)
ATP 500, hard court, $2.013 million prize pool
Wednesday March 1

2nd singles round:

Mackenzie McDonald (USA) – Brandon Nakashima (USA) 6-2, 6-0
Tommy Paul (US, 7) – Michael Mmoh (US) 6-4, 2-2 and crash
Taylor Fritz (USA, 3) – Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 6-4, 6-4
Frances Tiafoe (USA, 6) – Feliciano Lopez (Spain, CM) 6-2, 7-6(6)
Matteo Berrettini (Italy) v Elias Ymer (Sweden, LL) 6-3, 6-3
Holger Rune (Denmark, 4) v Nuno Borges (Portugal) 6-0, 6-2
Alex de Minaur (Australia, 8) bt Jacopo Berrettini (Italy, Q) 6-1, 6-0
Taro Daniel (Japan, Q) v Casper Ruud (Norway, 2nd) 7:5, 2:6, 7:6(5)

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