Yuki’s dream run ends
Washington, Aug. 5: Yuki Bhambri fought valiantly before a three-set defeat against 15th seed Kevin Anderson brought an end to his impressive campaign at the ATP Citi Open in the quarterfinals on Friday.
The Indian qualifier, who savoured his best ever performance on the ATP World Tour, went down fighting 4-6 6-4 3-6 against the world number 45 from South Africa, who smashed 21 aces en route to victory.
“I had a good tournament but disappointed with the result today. I felt I had a shot after winning the second set but got broken early in the third set and it’s much harder to come back against a big server,” Bhambri told PTI.
En route to the quarterfinals, Bhambri scalped world number 22 and defending champion Gael Monfils and world number 100
Argentine
Guido Pella. The 25-yearold earned 90 points, which should help him touch 150 in the world rankings. India’s challenge ended at the USD 2,002,460 hard court event when Rohan Bopanna and his American partner also lost their quarterfinal. The unseeded Indo-American combo lost 5-7 4-6 to fourth seeded American legends Mike and Bob Bryan.
Meanwhile, top-10 rivals Kei Nishikori and Alexander Zverev advanced to a semi-final showdown.
Ninth-ranked Nishikori, the 2015 champion on the Washington hardcourts, saved three match points in a tension-packed second set before rallying to beat 225th-ranked American 20year-old Tommy Paul 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.
Zverev, a 20-year-old German seeking his fourth ATP title of the year and ranked a careerhigh eighth, took only 57 minutes to eliminate Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-4.
It will be the first career meeting between Nishikori and Zverev.
Saturday’s other semifinal sends US eighth seed Jack Sock — a 7-5, 64 winner over Canadian third seed Milos Raonic — against South African 15th seed Kevin Anderson.