Caspr Ruud broke through for a career-first quarter-final at the Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday assh he shut down the Gael Monfils show 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
The Norwegian who has played three Grand Slam finals and frankly prefers clay, stands ninth in the world but claimed just one title last season.
Ruud needed nearly two and a half hours to construct his comeback against his French showman opponent.
He will bid for the semi-finals against Tommy Paul after the American dispatched Novak Djokovic’s surprise conqueror Luca Nardi of Italy 6-4, 6-3.
“I felt physically good and ready,” said Ruud. “It was a really tough second set, it fortunately went my way. I saved a few break points there and was clutch enough in the tie-break.”
Monfils at age 37 was the sixth oldest player to reach a Masters quarter-final since the series began in 1990.
Monfils was feeling the weight of his three-hour-plus victory in the previous round over 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.
Ruud improved to 16-3 on the season.
Iga Swiatek switched to warp speed after rain delayed her fourth-round match by an hour,…
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz ran his hot streak at the Indian Wells Masters to 14…
Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1,…
Coco Gauff wasted five match points while double-faulting four times in the final game but managed…
Jack Draper used the confidence earned just weeks ago in Australia to power past Jensen Brooksby…
Culinary enthusiast Stefanos Tsitsipas cooked up a 6-3, 6-3 win over Matteo Berrettini on Sunday,…
