Estoril Open Highlights: Ruud BEAT Baez – Casper Ruud advanced to his first semi-final of the season Friday at the Estoril Open. The World No. 5 defeated defending champion Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-0 in the quarterfinal. Follow Estoril Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Estoril Open Highlights: Casper Ruud enters maiden semifinal in 2023, defeats Sebastian Baez in quarterfinals of Estoril Open 2023 – Watch Highlights
On a mission 🚀 @CasperRuud98 eases past Baez 6-3 6-0 to book his SF spot. @EstorilOpen | #EstorilOpen pic.twitter.com/o6W0COhXxu
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 7, 2023
“It was great, particularly the second set, it was a great level by me,” Ruud said. “Very happy and pleased with that. Sebastian is a tough player. The score can sometimes lie a little bit. 6-3, 6-0 is not necessarily how it felt on court. But that’s tennis, small margins in this sport and when you have the margins on your side, some points, some lines here and there can go your [way].”
“It’s my first semi-final of the year, it’s important for me to try to do well now and win some matches,” Ruud said. “This is a very good start to the clay season for me.” Ruud will next meet Frenchman Quentin Halys, who continues to break new ground in 2023.
Ruud stuck to a deep return position and displayed pin-point accuracy from the baseline to put fifth seed Baez on defence. The Argentine will rue converting only one of his seven break points, four of which came in the second set. But the nine-time tour-level titlist Ruud held his ground to advance after one hour, 18 minutes.
“I’m playing really, really good at the moment. For me to be here in the semi-finals for the first tournament on clay is huge for me and I’ve played some really good players,” Halys said. “I’m so happy and I’m looking forward for tomorrow because I think I can do well again tomorrow. It’s going to be a tough one, but I’m really looking forward [to it].”
Estoril Open Highlights: Casper Ruud enters maiden semifinal in 2023, defeats Sebastian Baez in quarterfinals of Estoril Open 2023 – Watch Highlights
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