BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Casper Ruud defeated Jordan Thompson in straight sets to earn his season-leading 26th win and secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday.
The third-seeded Norwegian won 6-1, 6-4 to move one victory ahead of Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in 2024.
Ruud, ranked No. 6, is trying to reach his fourth final this year, having lost in Los Cabos, Acapulco and Monte Carlo.
He will next face 40th-ranked Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-0 at the clay-court tournament.
Fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, the seventh-ranked Greek who beat Ruud on Sunday to win the Monte Carlo title, reached the last eight with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena.
“There were no easy points coming my way,” Tsitsipas said. “I’m happy that I delivered and came up with some great tennis.”
EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas
China hits out at regional 'small circles'
Xi: The Strait cannot sever kinship
HK vibrant with celebratory atmosphere ahead of 25th anniversary of return to motherland
FIFA plans to add slew of new committees years after cutting them in anti
Xi Extends Congratulations to Cambodia's Hun Sen on Election Victory
Scholz's visit to focus on Sino
Xi Focus: Xi Calls for Striving to Realize Economic Goals in 2023
Woman, 26, who shed 70lbs reveals the surprising ways weight loss has transformed her life
Farmers busy with agricultural activities on Cold Dew across China