Nishioka Stuns Ruud In Seoul

Yoshihito Nishioka earned just the second Top 5 win of his career on Friday, when he upset World No. 2 Casper Ruud 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals at the Eugene Korea Open Tennis Championships.

Competing in Seoul, the Japanese star looked in control throughout the one-hour, 57-minute clash as he outmanoeuvred the Norwegian with his variety, striking 32 winners and committing just 14 unforced errors to earn the biggest win of his season.

“I feel great. My motivation is very high,” Nishioka said. “I am playing very well, very smart… He is a great player. I know he came from Europe and played at the Laver Cup, which is not easy matches. He wasn’t settled on this court or this country yet, maybe. I was ready. I was focused on playing against him and I had a plan and it worked.”

The 27-year-old, who downed Daniel Evans and Taro Daniel in straight sets earlier this week, will next play Aleksandar Kovacevic after the American lucky loser defeated countryman Mackenzie McDonald 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to continue his dream run.

The top seed Ruud defeated Nicolas Jarry in his opening match at the ATP 250 event, with his victory earning him qualification for the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals. He was unable to match Nishioka’s consistency, though, in their second ATP Head2Head meeting. Nishioka is into his second tour-level semi-final of the season, having enjoyed a run to the championship match in Washington last month.

Earlier, fourth seed Denis Shapovalov soared past Moldovan Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes. The 23-year-old Canadian did not face a break point and has now improved his quarter-final record this season to 2-3.

Shapovalov, who reached the semi-finals in Dubai in February, will next meet Jenson Brooksby after the eighth-seeded American received a walkover from second seed Cameron Norrie.