Buenos Aires/New York wrap: Kwon upsets Raonic to move through to quarter finals
A HUGE upset in New York has thrown open the title race as the first Round of 16 matches were completed across both the New York Open and Argentina Open.
ARGENTINA OPEN – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA:
The first four Round of 16 matches were completed in Buenos Aires with three thrillers and one belting, though all were straight-set wins. Third seed, Dusan Lajovic won in two tiebreakers, 7-6 7-6 and both were 8-6 in those tiebreakers, which meant you had to feel for the loser, Spanish qualifier Pedro Martinez. Also winning in two tiebreakers was lucky loser, Pedro Sousa with the Portugese player continuing his streak since losing in qualifying to defeat another qualifier in Jozef Kovalik 7-6 7-6. The big upset of the day was Brazilian Thiago Monteiro who toppled fourth seed Croatian, Borna Coric 6-4 7-6, with the second set also being an 8-6 tiebreaker.
In the one smashing, eighth seed Norwegian Casper Ruud defeated Spaniard, Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1 6-0 in 57 minutes. He finished with a serving efficiency of 74 per cent and a first serve points won efficiency of 75 per cent. It was far superior to his Spanish opponent, dropping just 10 points on serve, while Carballes Baena won just 38 per cent of his service points and only 26 per cent of his return points. Overall it was one-way traffic for the up-and-coming Norwegian who booked a spot in the quarter finals.
Round of 16 Results:
[3] D. Lajovic defeated [Q] P. Martinez (ESP) 7-6 7-6
T. Monteiro (BRA) defeated [4] B. Coric (CRO) 6-4 7-6
[8] C. Ruud (NOR) defeated R. Carballes Baena (ESP) 6-1 6-0
[LL] P. Sousa (POR) defeated [Q] J. Kovalik (SLO) 7-6 7-6
NEW YORK OPEN – NEW YORK, UNITED STATES:
South Korean Soonwoo Kwon survived a tight three-set match against second seed, Canada’s Milos Raonic to advance through to a quarter final with a 7-6 6-7 6-4 victory. It took two hours and 24 minutes for the 84th ranked South Korean to win, opening up the bottom half of the draw. He was strong on serve, winning 79 per cent of his first serve points and 67 per cent of his second serve points, while saving all seven of Raonic’s break point opportunities. He only broke the Canadian once, but it came in the crucial last set, weathering an array of aces throughout the match – with Raonic producing 33 for the match.
In other results, sixth seed Serbian, Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Italian qualifier Paolo Lorenzi 6-3 6-3, Andreas Seppi knocked off American Steve Johnson 7-6 6-3 and fourth seed Ugo Humbert smashed American Marc Giron 6-1 6-0.
Round of 16 Results:
S. Kwon (KOR) defeated [2] M. Raonic (CAN) 7-6 6-7 6-4
[4] U. Humbert (FRA) defeated M. Giron (USA) 6-1 6-0
[6] M. Kecmanovic (SRB) defeated [Q] P. Lorenzi (ITA) 6-3 6-3
A. Seppi (ITA) defeated S. Johnson (USA) 7-6 6-3
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