By Canadian Press

Pospisil through to fourth round after upset of Bautista Agut at US Open

Sep 5, 2020 | 1:29 PM

NEW YORK — Canada’s Vasek Pospisil rallied from a set down on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time in his career.  

The Vancouver player edged No. 8 seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 7-5, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in third-round action at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The 30-year-old Pospisil, ranked No. 94, came into the match 0-3 in his career against Bautista Agut.

Saturday’s win was Pospisil’s second straight upset of the tournament. He beat fellow Canadian and No. 25 seed Milos Raonic in the second round.

Pospisil will face No. 21 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in the round of 16.

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Pospisil looked to be heading towards defeat after losing the second and third sets against Bautista Agut, but a late break put the Canadian ahead 5-3 in the fourth before he easily served out the set.

Pospisil earned an early break in the fifth set en route to a 3-1 lead, then broke Bautista Agut once more to go up 5-2.

Pospisil had 19 aces and 70 winners, including on the final point. He converted four of eight break points and saved 12 of 15.

Bautista Agut was part of the Spanish team that defeated Canada in the Davis Cup final last November. Pospisil had been on a tear throughout that tournament, but did not get a chance to play in the championship round. Bautista Agut beat Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the first rubber of the final round before Rafael Nadal topped Denis Shapovalov to claim the championship.

Later Saturday, Auger-Aliassime, the 15th seed at the Grand Slam tournament, played Corentin Moutet of France.

No. 12 seed Shapovalov, of Richmond Hill, Ont., plays No. 7 seed David Goffin of Belgium in the fourth round Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2020.

The Canadian Press