Carreno Busta cruises into Winston-Salem quarter-finals, Gasquet ousts Evans
Winston-Salem has almost always been a successful stop on tour for Pablo Carreno Busta, and this year’s event is shaping up to be no different. The top seed advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Pablo Carreno Busta improved to 15-5 lifetime at the Winston-Salem Open when he defeated Dominik Koepfer 6-2, 6-3 during third-round action on Wednesday afternoon. The 2016 champion needed only one hour and seven minutes to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Carreno Busta saved the only break point he faced and earned three breaks of the Koepfer serve.
“It was a very good match,” the top seed assured. “I think I played very aggressively today; I made a lot of winners. I played against him the last two tournaments, so it was important to me at the beginning of the match to be very focused and play very aggressive. I think this was a very good match for me.
“I’m feeling really comfortable playing this year, also. We know next we have the US Open, but day by day I need the confidence — I need the rhythm. I think that I’m playing at a really good level, so I would like to continue this way.”
Gasquet gets past Evans, Paire falls to Ruusuvuori
It was mixed day of results for veteran Frenchman.
Benoit Paire has suddenly started to win some matches again this summer, but he did not have enough to beat Emil Ruusuvuori on Wednesday. Ruusuvuori, who also got the best of Paire in Atlanta, battled to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory.
It was better news for Richard Gasquet, who knocked off No 3 seed Dan Evans 6-4, 7-6(4), Gasquet recovered from a break down in the second set to prevail after one hour and 51 minutes.
“I had confidence after winning the first set,” the 35-year-old commented. “I fought a lot in the second set. He started to play better, to be more aggressive and I tried to fight, so it was important for me to win the second set. The third, you never know what could happen. I’m really happy with how I played.
“I’m playing well. I won two difficult matches, especially with the conditions — it’s very hot and humid. So it’s always a tough battle for everyone, but I managed to win and I hope to do the same tomorrow.”
