Wawrinka sets up semi-final clash with Nishikori
ROTTERDAM: Stan Wawrinka, seeking his first title since undergoing two knee surgeries in 2017, subdued Canadian 10th seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-6(4) on Friday to set up an intriguing semi-final with top seed Kei Nishikori at the World Tennis Tournament.
The Swiss wildcard broke for a 5-4 lead in the opening set and sealed the win in a well mastered tiebreak. “Physically I feel really good, and I’m moving and feeling better match after match,” he said. “Tonight was a tough match. I had to really fight at the end. I was a bit nervous at the end of the match. We had some long rallies. It’s good to see that I can keep being there, mentally, physically.”
Nishikori took a step closer to claiming his second title of the year by defeating Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-2.
Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev dismantled Frenchman Jo-wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2. He will face another Frenchman in Gael Monfils, who beat Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-2.
ISNER ENTERS SEMIS IN NEW YORK
NEWYORK:TOP seeded John Isner was one of three Americans to reach the semi-finals of the ATP New York Open with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Australian seventh seed Jordan Thompson here on Friday.
Isner will now face compatriot Reilly Opelka, who defeated Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-lopez 6-3, 6-4. It will be a rematch from the Australian Open, when Opelka defeated Isner in four sets.
The other semi-final will see Sam Querrey square off against Canadian Brayden Schnur.
Querrey defeated Jason Jung 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and Schnur rallied to beat Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 6-7(7), 7-6(5), 7-5.
THIEM ADVANCES IN ARGENTINA
BUENOSAIRES:TOP seeded defending champion Dominic Thiem of Austria advanced to the Argentina Open semi-finals on Friday, beating Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
World No 8 Thiem, who reached the French Open final last year, will take on fourth seeded home favourite Diego Schwartzman on Saturday. Schwartzman beat Spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-1, 7-5.
HALEP, MERTENS TO PLAY QATAR FINAL
DOHA: Simona Halep won five games in a row in the deciding set of an astonishing match against Elina Svitolina in Doha on Friday to power through to the Qatar Open final.
Seemingly down and almost out at 1-4 in the third set, world No 3 Halep was roared on by a large and noisy set of Romanian fans to secure a remarkable 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over the Ukrainian.
She will play Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the final after the world No 21 stunned three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.