Raonic, Potro clash in semis

Indian Wells ( United States), March 17: Japanese dynamo Naomi Osaka punched her ticket to the Indian Wells final on Friday, routing world no. 1 Simona Halep to set up a title clash with rising star Daria Kasatkina.

World no. 44 Osaka stormed past the top seeded Halep in stunning fashion with a 6- 3, 6- 0 win, while Russian juggernaut Kasatkina wore down the 37- year- old seven- time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in three sets 4- 6, 6- 4, 7- 5.

The 26- year- old former champion Halep dropped to 18- 2 on the season as she lasted just 64 minutes on the court with Osaka.

Youth prevailed on Friday night as both unseeded Osaka and world no. 19 Kasatkina are 20 years old while the combined age of Williams and Halep is 63.

Osaka improved to 14- 4 in 2018 as she came into the clash as the lowest ranked Indian Wells semifinalist since Kim Clijsters in 2005.

Halep had three double faults, won just five points on her second serve and had her serve broken five times.

Halep, who had reached the semifinals in all four of her tournaments in 2018, was trying to repeat her Indian Wells success of three years ago when she beat Jelena Jankovic to lift the trophy.

KASATKINA WINS Meanwhile, Kasatkina rolled over her third top10 player in a row to reach her first Indian Wells final.

Kasatkina rallied to claim the biggest victory of her career and defeat world number eight Williams, extending a year- long assault on top players, Grand Slam winners and former world number ones.

Serving for the match, Kasatkina clinched the victory on her second match point as she raced out to a 40- 0 lead. Williams hit a cross- court forehand winner on the first match point but then dumped a backhand into the net to end the two hour, 49 minute showdown.

Ultimately the young Russian proved to be too strong for Williams, who appeared to hit a wall at about the two and a half hour mark.

Kasatkina fired one ace, hit five double faults and broke Williams’ serve seven times in the entertaining match. Indian Wells, March 17: Milos Raonic, coming off an injury- riddled 2017, booked an Indian Wells semi- final with Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday with a 7- 5, 2- 6, 6- 3 win over American Sam Querrey.

The 27- year- old Raonic picked up just his fourth match win of the season and is seeking to capture his ninth career ATP Tour title.

He’ll be up against the eighth- ranked player in the world in Argentina’s Del Potro, who beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 3- 6, 6- 3, 6- 4 in the day’s other quarterfinal.

“I am very happy I was able to put it together today,” Raonic said. “I’m in the semis. I am happy with that. I know I can play better.” ● Raonic lost in the final of Indian Wells in 2016 and has now made it to the semifinals in his last three appearances

● Raonic blasted 17 aces and broke the 18th seeded Querrey’s serve three times in the one hour, 51- minute match on the main stadium court

Raonic lost in the final of this event in 2016 and has now made it to the semifinals in his last three appearances.

Raonic didn’t play in Indian Wells last year because of a string of injuries and surgeries that decimated his season.

Raonic blasted 17 aces and broke the 18th seeded Querrey’s serve three times in the one hour, 51 minute match on the main stadium court.

Raonic clinched the match on his second match point when

Querrey wide.

Serving in the final game, Raonic benefitted from a challenge call that resulted in his final ace.

The serve was originally ruled out but Raonic asked for a review which showed the ball clipped the centre line. That got the score to 40- 40 and he took the next two points for the match.

Raonic is now 3- 2 lifetime over Querrey, having won the last three straight.

Raonic

hit lost

a

forehand his composure a few times in the second set but regrouped in the third.

‘ LITTLE GRUMPY’

“Sometimes my emotions take me for a ride,” he said. “I was a little grumpy there. But it was good, because most of that first set and that second set I was missing some energy, so it was good to sort of get it out in whichever way. I used it as a positive.”

In the first set Querrey wasted no time breaking Raonic’s serve in the opening game. They stayed on serve until Raonic broke back in the tenth game. Raonic held serve and then broke Querrey in 12th game to take the set.

Querrey got the only two breaks in the second set as Raonic struggled with his serve.