Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich reached the quarterfinals of the Toronto Masters 1000 after a gripping victory on hard courts in Canada. He defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud in a three-set battle that stretched every facet of his game, finishing with a scoreline of seven six wins, four to six, and seven six in the deciding set. This win came after a rugged spell in recent rounds, marking a standout performance in a year where consistency has started to take shape on the North American hardcourt swing ahead of the late-season events.
Known affectionately as Foki by fans, the Malaga native had struggled to notch a win at this event earlier in the week, but his latest triumph represented a long-awaited confidence boost. The victory over Ruud, a persistent rival on tour, followed a pair of encouraging results that seemed to confirm the Spaniard was rediscovering his sharpness after a pair of uneven showings. The win against a player of Ruud’s caliber reinforced Davidovich’s belief that he could contend with the very best, especially on a surface that complements his aggressive baseline game.
Early action in the match featured a clean, break-free opening with both players holding serve and the momentum shifting as the contest progressed. A rain interruption paused the spectacle and briefly complicated the rhythm, but the Spaniard reclaimed his footing after the delay. When play resumed, the momentum swung back and forth, with Davidovich briefly taking the initiative before Ruud answered with resilience, forcing a closing sequence that elevated the drama of the set at stake.
From a 2-3 deficit, the Malaga standout moved to 4-3 through a series of precise returns and aggressive shot-making. Yet the plot twisted again as the Norwegian clawed his way back, leveling affairs and pushing the set toward a decisive conclusion. A late timeout during Ruud’s serve in the latter stage of the set didn’t derail the Spaniard, who kept his focus despite the pressure and secured a tight opening-set finish in a tiebreak with a strong late push.
Davidovich had to weather a renewed spell of pressure early in the third quarter, as Ruud recorded a break and began to pull away. The veteran Norwegian forced an important timeout on the Spaniard’s serve, testing his nerve just when it mattered most. But the crowd’s energy surged as the Malaga player found a second wind, lifting his level with a series of aggressive returns and fearless shot selection that punctuated the critical moments of the decider.
The turning point arrived as the match reached another tight tiebreak. Davidovich regained his best form, shouting with relief and launching decisive serves and returns that left Ruud scrambling for answers. The Norwegian erred more frequently under pressure, and the Spaniard capitalized with smart point construction and timely aggression to clinch the match and keep his pursuit of the semi finals intact. The win extends Davidovich’s strong run in Canada and sets up a clash with Mackenzie McDonald, who had eliminated the local favorite Milos Raonic in straight sets with authority, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the next round.
In Toronto, the Spaniard demonstrated a blend of resilience and explosive play that fans have come to associate with his game. The victory not only earned him a spot in the quarterfinals but also reinforced his growing belief that he can navigate high-stakes moments against the sport’s top players. As the tournament progresses, Davidovich’s synergy with the Canadian crowd and his evolving all-court game are shaping him into a formidable threat on this surface and on these courts, where every ball has to be earned. This phase of the season could be pivotal, offering Davidovich a platform to build momentum toward the later stages of the Masters 1000 calendar and beyond, as he continues to chase further breakthroughs on the tour.