BARCELONA: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated world number eight Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-4 to reach the Barcelona Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
The Spaniard, ranked 30th, had never beaten the Russian before but triumphed at the sixth time of asking in straight sets.
Monte Carlo Masters semifinalist Davidovich Fokina broke three times in a topsy-turvy first set, with Rublev twice reacting before the Malaga native held to love in the 12th game.
Rublev went a break down in the first game of the second set, but despite securing one of his own for 2-2, he was once again broken as Davidovich Fokina took a 5-4 lead and then served out for the match, again to love.
Earlier, Spain's Jaume Munar came up short against Karen Khachanov, who also won 7-5, 6-4, and will face Davidovich Fokina in the next round.
The Russian, who trains in Barcelona, only converted four of 15 break points but eventually put the battling Munar to bed.
On Wednesday, Barcelona Open holder Casper Ruud ousted Hamad Medjedovic 7-5, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals.
The Norwegian, ranked 10th in the world, conceded a break in the first game of the first set but pulled level at 4-4 with one of his own.
Ruud survived four break points for a 6-5 lead and then converted his third set point to take the first set.
The 26-year-old, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, once again came from a break down in the second set to triumph, breaking to love against the Serb to wrap up his win.
"That was quite fortunate today. I'm also happy with my mentality, that I didn't give up, that I tried to hang in there," said Ruud.
"It was a little bit too much up and down today for my personal liking."
Runner-up to Ruud in 2024, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas steered into the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 win over American Sebastian Korda.
The Greek came up against spirited opposition, with both players strong on their serve, but did not concede a break point in his straight sets win.
Tsitsipas will face Frenchman Arthur Fils, who breezed past Spain's Pedro Martinez in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
Ranked 14th in the world, Fils conceded just one break point in the match, which the 20-year-old saved.
"I think (Fils) is a great competitor, I've played him twice and had no luck," said Tsitsipas. — AFP
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