Roberto Bautista Agut advances to the final draw in Beijing | ATP Tour

An emerging Bautista Agut advances to the final draw in Beijing

Carballés Baena was one step away from main draw at the China Open

September 25, 2024

Roberto Bautista Agut keeps the competitive flame alive. The Spaniard surpassed the qualifying phase at the China Open this Wednesday, resisting Roman Safiullin 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in a battle that lasted almost three hours of play. At 36 years old, with much of his career already written, the man from Castellón retains intact an attribute that took him to the front line of the circuit: an unusual capacity for suffering.

In one of the most prestigious events of the Asian tour, former quarterfinalist Bautista Agut appeared ready to grit his teeth. The No. 61 of the PIF ATP Rankings, survivor in a duel also close to three hours against the British Billy Harris in the previous round, completed his landing in the main draw with well-adjusted blows.

Having become one of the great veterans of the locker room, Roberto faces an enormous challenge: recovering the level that allowed him to live among the 10 best in the world at the height of his career. After leaving behind a fracture of the fibula suffered in August 2023 while riding a horse, an accident that sent him out of the Top 100 for the first time in a decade, the Levantine continues to recover ground.

Thus, Bautista Agut continues to accumulate pace with the aim of having a great end to the season. The man from Castellón, who reached the second week at Wimbledon, added a victory at the US Open and provided a key boost for Spain until the Final 8 of the Davis Cup, winning two singles matches in Valencia, maintaining an ascending line of play in Asia.

This Wednesday, Belgian Zizou Bergs also advanced to the main draw of the China Open, winning 6-4, 6-4 over Frenchman Corentin Moutet; Czech #NextGenATP Jakub Mensik, who defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; and Pavel Kotov, survivor 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 against the Spanish Roberto Carballés Baena.

The China Open presents a star-studded final draw this season, with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev among the tournament’s top seeds. The Italian world No. 1 will try to retain the individual cup in Beijing, something that only six-time champion Novak Djokovic achieved among active players.

Did you know that…?
Roberto Bautista Agut reached the greatest final of his sporting career in China. The Spaniard managed to become runner-up at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai in the 2016 season, losing to former world No. 1 Andy Murray in the title match.