Casper Ruud stayed in the chase for a shot at the top ATP ranking as the Norwegian hammered out a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2 defeat of agitated Frenchman Corntin Moutet on Sunday at the US Open.
Fifth seed Ruud booked into the quarter-finals and must reach the Sunday final to have a chance at No 1 in a wide-open race to the position currently held by Daniil Medvedev.
The Norwegian stayed calm as Moutet kept up a stream of complaints both to himself and the chair umpire almost throughout the two-and-a-half-hour encounter on the Ashe showcase court.
The Frenchman, first lucky loser form qualifying to get to the Open fourth round, was steaming at being warned for taking too much time between serves.
Moutet complained nonstop that he needed time to go to his towel to mop up sweat in steamy, humid conditions
His anger exploded as Ruud took victory on a third match point, with Moutet hitting a ball into the stands to end the afternoon after three and three-quarter hours of frustration
Ruud continued to quietly break national records as the first Norwegian man to get this far at any Grand Slam; Moutet, 23, has now lost all eight of his matches against Top 10 opponents.
“The match was much tougher than the scoreline,” Ruud said as he moved into a match with Matteo Berrettini, who beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
“Corentin is a good player, he has all the shots. I need to focus and stay sharp.
“In the third I got broken back but in the fourth I was able to break him a few times by serving well. I was able to dictate a bit.”
Main photo:- Corentin Moutet tries to keep cool in the steamy conditions – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
