Spoiler:
Defending champion Casper Ruud also ensured it was a winning return to Barcelona on Tuesday. The second seed delivered an assured 6-4, 6-3 performance over qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan to advance. Ruud served back-to-back double faults to fall to 4-4, 0/30 in the first set, but crucially reeled off eight of the final nine points of the opener to swing the momentum in his favour.
“I was able to win some good points from 4-4, 0/30 down, I held serve and broke him right away… That’s a little bit of a steal, I would say,” said Ruud, who will next face Hamad Medjedovic. “All in all, I’m very happy with the match, and the win.
“I had many chances in the beginning that I couldn’t take, but we got there in the end. I’m happy to be back in Barcelona and get a straight-sets win. One year ago, I had one of the best weeks of my life, so the memories come back.”
While Ruud landed just 52 per cent of his first serves in the opening set, he was able to back up his second deliveries with venom. The Norwegian won 76 per cent of points behind his second serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and hit 25 winners during the one-hour, 30-minute clash.
“I was able to win some good points from 4-4, 0/30 down, I held serve and broke him right away… That’s a little bit of a steal, I would say,” said Ruud, who will next face Hamad Medjedovic. “All in all, I’m very happy with the match, and the win.
“I had many chances in the beginning that I couldn’t take, but we got there in the end. I’m happy to be back in Barcelona and get a straight-sets win. One year ago, I had one of the best weeks of my life, so the memories come back.”
While Ruud landed just 52 per cent of his first serves in the opening set, he was able to back up his second deliveries with venom. The Norwegian won 76 per cent of points behind his second serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and hit 25 winners during the one-hour, 30-minute clash.
