Sixth-seeded Ruud defeated Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday. For his part, Tsitsipas, No. 3, defeated Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2.
Against Lajovic, Felix Auger-Aliassime striker the day before, Ruud showed opportunism, taking advantage of each of the three break points he obtained.
Ruud has now won their last 14 singles matches. He won the clay-court titles in Bastad, Sweden, Gstaad, Switzerland, and Kitzbühel, Germany during that streak.
Tsitsipas, finalist at Roland Garros this spring, will have the task of slowing him down during the quarter-finals.
“I can’t wait to face him, although I know he’s tough,” Tsitsipas said. I think he will have some new tricks up his sleeve. “
Celebrating his 23rd birthday, the Greek saved the two break points he awarded to Khachanov. He broke the service of his Russian rival three times.
After the game, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to him as he was handed a white cake decorated with fresh fruit.
“It’s one of the best feelings you can have on a tennis court,” said the winner. It is heartwarming. “
Andrey Rublev suffered the same fate as his compatriot. The Russian and fourth seed fell victim to American John Isner, who won 7-5, 7-6 (5).
Isner hammered 20 aces against a single double fault in the game. For his part, Rublev had 10 aces but committed four double faults.
Isner won the title in Atlanta two weeks ago. He will face in the quarterfinals the 11 the seeded Gael Monfils that the French had the best 6-1, 7-6 (2) on the American Frances Tiafoe.
In the evening, tournament favourite Daniil Medvedev, another Russian tennis player, easily took over Australia’s James Duckworth in two sets of 6-2 and 6-4.
“I managed to win a few close games and managed to take the lead,” said Medvedev after the game. I think he lost his rhythm and I think it was kind of my fault too. “
Medvedev will face seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who defeated Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4.
There are no more Canadians competing in Toronto. Denis Shapovalov suffered the same fate as Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday, losing to Tiafoe in a second-round match.
