Kyrgios through, Nadal on horizon

EIGHTH seed Nick Kyrgios last night advanced to the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing.

The Australian beat Steve Darcis 6-0, 3-0, with the Belgian forced to retire injured.

Kyrgios is set for a likely showdown in the last four with No.2 seed Alexander Zverev. The German was set to face young Russian Andrey Rublev in the remaining quarter-final.

Earlier, top-ranked Rafael Nadal joined Kyrgios in the semis, beating sixth-seeded John Isner 6-4, 7-6 (7-0).

The French and US Open champion has won five titles this season and is closing in on the year-end No.1 ranking.

Nadal saved all three break points he faced against Isner.

The Spaniard will face third-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the last four. Dimitrov beat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-2. SECOND seed Simona Halep has moved into the China Open semi-finals to keep alive her hopes of reaching the No.1 ranking with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Daria Kasatkina. The Romanian needs to reach the Beijing final, and not lose to third-seeded Elena Svitolina, to bump No.1 Garbine Muguruza from top spot. SOME Davis Cup ties will be reduced to a two-day format with best-of-three-set matches instead of best-of-five next year, the International Tennis Federation said last night.

Matches in the World Group will continue to be played over the long format for the time being, but could be changed depending on the outcome of an ITF trial for shortened ties in zonal group matches next February.

Two singles matches will be played on day one with the doubles, followed by two singles rubbers, on day two. The ITF also said nations will be able to select from five players rather than four as part of a trial.