Ruud awakening for Rublev as Norwegian bags spot in semis

TURIN: Casper Ruud will face Daniil Medvedev in the last four of the ATP Finals ater coming from behind to beat Andrey Rublev 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) on Friday.

Both players knew a win at the Pala Alpitour in Turin would take them into the Saturday’s semi-finals and Ruud impressed in coming from behind to make sure he will be taking on the world number two.

The Norwegian has followed up a brilliant year in which he won five tournaments by reaching the semis in his first appearance at the season-ending event.

He did it despite being demolished in the first set by fith seed Rublev, who then looked certain to be facing his countryman at the weekend ater breaking Ruud’s serve in game three of the second set.

“It’s a great day for me and my career obviously, this year has been special,” said Ruud on court.

“I’ve been on the edge for the past two matches, coming back from a set down... I don’t know really how I did it. I got some good returns and then the momentum changes, we are both playing with nerves in the end so I guess I can thank my arm I was able to hit an ace on the match point because I was so nervous.”

Fith seed Rublev came into the match unbeaten in his four previous meetings with Ruud but ater a strong start fell to a deserved defeat, failing to qualifyfortheknockoutroundsfromthegreengroup.

“I don’t have much to say, it’s tough. Hopefully I can get through it to give myself a lesson.” a dejected Rublev later told reporters.

WTA THREATENS TO PULL TOURNAMENTS OUT OF CHINA OVER PENG: The head of the Women’s Tennis Association said he is prepared to cut lucrative business ties with China if tennis star Peng Shui remains unaccounted for and her sexual assault allegations against a top Communist Party official are not investigated.

WTA boss Steve Simon’s comments on Thursday came ater Tennis great Serena Williams called for an investigation into Peng’s whereabouts.

Peng, a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, alleged on Chinese social media earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli -- who is in his seventies -- had “forced” her into sex and they had an on-off relationship.

The claims, which brought the #Metoo movement into the highest echelons of China’s ruling Communist Party for the first time, were quickly scrubbed from the Twiter-like Weibo plaform and the 35-year-old has not been seen since.

Simon told CNN that he is willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Chinese business in one of the WTA’S biggest markets to ensure Peng’s safety.