Spanish teen Jodar ousts eighth seed Lehecka at Montreal

AFP | Montreal

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Spanish teen Rafael Jodar defeated Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Montreal Masters.

Jodar dominated the night match after an afternoon rain delay in the Masters 1000 hardcourt event.

The 19-year-old Spaniard, runner-up last week in Washington, never let Lehecka into their fourth-round match in collecting his 33rd victory of the season.

World number 15 Jodar has reached the last eight in seven of his past eight events and a Montreal title would send the youngster to a top-10 ranking for the first time.

Jodar will play for a semi-final berth against French 18th seed Arthur Fils, who defeated Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6 (10/8).

Fils, who lost to Jodar last week in Washington, will play in his fourth Masters quarter-final of the year.

“It was a very nice battle,” Fils said. “The second set was back and forth. He really raised his level. I got a bit tight but I’m happy to get out in two sets. I’m confident with how I’m playing right now.”

Italian Luciano Darderi fuelled himself with an espresso shot during a mid-match changeover in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Nuno Borges to reach the quarter-finals.

It was not the first time Darderi had downed his national rocket fuel to fire up the afterburners in a tight situation on court.

Darderi will bid for the semis against Brandon Nakashima, whose match with Arthur Rinderknech was interrupted for nearly two hours with the final set level at 4-4.