Ymer Stuns Karatsev In Pune
Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer earned his first Top 20 win Thursday at the Tata Open Maharashtra, shocking top seed Aslan Karatsev 6-2, 7-6(3) to reach the quarter-finals in Pune.
In a dominant performance, a pumped-up Ymer was strong on serve as he fired 10 aces and won 80 per cent (24/30) of his first-serve points to capture the biggest victory of his career after one hour and 36 minutes.
“It is my highest win ever,” Ymer said in his on-court interview. “I am really happy. It is big for me. I have been fighting a lot and I was serving amazing today. I hope to keep it going. I am so happy to finally get this win.”
[FOLLOW ACTION]It is the first time the World No. 163 has advanced to the last eight at a tour-level event since 2016, when he reached the quarter-finals in Gstaad. With his triumph, it is just the second time Ymer has defeated a Top 50 opponent, with his only other success coming against then-World No. 41 Nick Kyrgios in Barcelona in 2015.
Ymer, who is making his debut in Pune, held his nerve in the second-set tie-break against the World No. 15, sealing his win with an ace. The 25-year-old will next face eighth seed Stefano Travaglia after the Italian overcame Indian Yuki Bhambri 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes.
In other action at the ATP 250 event, fourth seed Jiri Vesely moved past Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 6-4 as he looks to retain his title in Pune.
The World No. 80 lifted the trophy at the Tata Open Maharashtra in 2020 and set the wheels in motion for another deep run, breaking the 25-year-old four times to advance after 90 minutes.
Vesely will next play sixth seed Emil Ruusuvuori in the quarter-finals after the Finn downed Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-3 in their first ATP Head2Head meeting. Ruusuvuori has enjoyed a strong start to the season, having advanced to the last four at the Melbourne Summer Set last month.