Roberto Bautista Agut seeks to redeem 2016 Winston-Salem result
By Harry Floyd
Roberto Bautista Agut is the top seed this week at the Winston-Salem Open. The 2016 runner-up aims to make a title run this year.
Roberto Bautista Agut is looking for redemption this week at the 2017 Winston-Salem Open. The Spanish tennis star is the top seed and remains alive in the quarterfinals.
Last year, Bautista Agut fell to fellow countryman Pablo Carreño Busta in the finals. He dropped the finals meeting in a tough three-set match. This time around, the defending champion fell in the round of 32, making room for Bautista Agut’s chance at redemption.
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On Thursday, the top seeded Spanish veteran squares off against Taylor Fritz. The 19-year-old American up and comer defeated Paolo Lorenzi in a two-set thriller in order to advance into the quarterfinals.
A surprise upset came to American favorite John Isner. The world No. 14, and third seed this week, dropped his round of 16 match against Borna Ćorić of Croatia.
Robert Bautista Agut is the current world No. 15 in men’s singles tennis.
With one ATP singles title already on the year, the Spanish tennis veteran is now seeking a second. His strong play this year has thrust him closer to his career high ranking of No. 13. A win at the 2017 Winston-Salem Open could provide him the chance to leap past Isner in the singles rankings.
No. 6 seed and highest remaining American player, Steve Johnson, faces Kyle Edmund in his quarterfinals meeting. Johnson has one ATP singles title on the year. Both players are neck and neck in the men’s singles rankings.
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The 2017 US Open is right around the corner. Any momentum players such as Roberto Bautista Agut can gain this week is crucial. Previously, the Spanish tennis star has reached the fourth round of the Grand Slam twice in his career. Reaching glory at the Winston-Salem Open could be just what he needs to make another deep run at the upcoming major tournament. Stay tuned to see how the quarterfinals action unfolds at this year’s Winston-Salem Open.