SEVILLE, September 9, 2016
Taro Daniel and Casper Ruud will compete in Saturday’s final of the LIV Copa Sevilla, held at the Real Betis Tenis Club. The 17-year-old from Norway continued his amazing week at his ATP Challenger debut, rallying from a set down to overcome defending champion Pedro Cachín on Friday evening.
Ruud, who skipped the US Open juniors competiton and battled through the qualifying, lost his service twice but broke his opponent four times to seal a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour and 51 minutes. The teenager has become the only 13th player since 2000 to reach the final in his first Challenger event. Most recent was Stefan Kozlov in Sacramento 2014. With Richard Gasquet and Dmitry Tursonov only two of the 13 were able to capture the title.
Ruud will take on Taro Daniel for the trophy. The third seed from Japan remained untroubled, easing past Kamil Majchrzak from Poland 6-2, 6-1. Daniel saved all of the five break points he faced, converting four of his own to advance in 78 minutes. Ruud and Daniel will meet for the first time.
Inigo Cervantes and Oriol Roca Batalla (photo: Copa Sevilla)
Spaniards Clinch Doubles Trophies
Earlier the day, second seeds Inigo Cervantes and Oriol Roca Batalla clinched the doubles title. The all-Spanish-combination benefited from the retirement of Ariel Behar and Enrique López-Pérez. The latter had to stop the encounter due to lower back injury after 73 minutes at 6-2, 6-5 for Cervantes and Roca Batalla. It was the first team title for the duo.
