Déjà Vu For Ramos-Vinolas In Gstaad

At last week’s Swedish Open, Albert Ramos-Vinolas defeated Fernando Verdasco and Roberto Carballes Baena in back-to-back matches to reach the semi-finals.

The 31-year-old is half way to repeating that feat at the J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad after beating Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 7-6(4) on Wednesday to book another meeting with Carballes Baena.

Ramos-Vinolas recorded his 19th victory in 36 tour-level matches this year after one hour and 42 minutes, winning 72 per cent of service points en route to victory (48/67). The World No. 85 has now claimed four victories from nine FedEx ATP Head2Head clashes against the 2011 runner-up. Carballes Baena advanced to his second quarter-final in as many weeks after overcoming Stefano Travaglia 6-2, 6-4 in 80 minutes.

Thomas Fabbiano produced a solid service performance to beat fellow Italian and fourth seed Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and five minutes for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It is never easy to play against a close friend,” said Fabbiano. “Today was a tough match. Clay and altitude are not my favourite conditions and I’m very happy that I managed to win today. You have to adjust to the conditions every week and I hope that I can go a step further this week.”

Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, who is on the comeback trail from another wrist injury and came into the ATP 250 tournament with a 0-4 tour-level record in 2019, booked a place in his first ATP Tour quarter-final for more than two years (2017 Geneva). Stebe kept his nerve to beat Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 14 minutes.