Agut storms into quarter-final

The players had met once earlier, in 2014, when Agut got the better of the Brazilian 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 in a Davis Cup World Group play-off match. With the tournament already throwing up surprises with two qualifiers knocking out the top-seed and young sensation Borna Coric, Agut restored normalcy when he beat his opponent, who was ranked 84 placed below him, in straight sets in a match that was played a little more than an hour. 

Agut forced the Brazilian opponent to play to his advantage, indulging in long rallies, as the Spaniard cashed in on the Silva’s unforced errors and unleashed mighty strikes from time to time to stamp his authority on the match. Agut broke Silva in the sixth game to nudge ahead with three break-points up his sleeve, the Spaniard sent a thunderous forehand winner down the line to go 4-2 up.

The World No. 14 played some good shots from the baseline, including delicate drops to catch Silva unawares, to win points with ease. Agut wrapped up the first set with a forehand drop shot from the middle of the T that was hit with precision and Silva couldn’t reach to take it on time. Agut went better as the game progressed and his forehand shots became lethal. 

He started moving well and executed his shots with good timing down the T. The Brazilian got his first break point in the fourth game but unforced errors did him in. Agut came up with unplayable serves to the backhand corner to negate the Brazlian advantage. A foot-fault by Silva in the fifth game gave the advantage on a platter to Agut and the second seed capitalised on it. The seventh game belonged to Agut too as he broke Silva with a neat forehand drive and with the Brazilian’s dropping shoulders and dented confidence Agut served for the match without any ado. Benot Paire beat Yuki Bhambri of India 6-3, 6-4 to reach quarter-finals.