On tour
Nordea Open: Rublev Speeds Past Baez To Avenge Past Defeat In Bastad
The top seed and 2023 champion in Bastad dispatched Argentina’s Baez 6-1, 6-2 in just an hour on Friday afternoon to book his semifinal spot. For Rublev, it was a satisfying victory against a player who had prevailed in straight sets in the pair’s only previous ATP head-to-head meeting, at the same venue in 2022.
“It feels great,” Rublev said after his victory against World No. 56 Baez. “First of all, to be back in Bastad and then second to be back here in the semi-final after a great win against a tough player, whom I only played once, in Sebastian. It was here in Bastad, and he beat me quite easily, so for me it was a great challenge today to see the changes that I’m doing. It was a good test for me, and I felt very proud to be able to win in straight sets.”
