SPANIARD FACES IN-FORM CILIC NEXT, FEDERER TO TAKE ON DEL POTRO IN THE SEMI-FINALS
afael Nadal will play Marin Cilic in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters today after the world No. 1 was forced to fight past Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.
The Spaniard, who has never won the Shanghai showpiece, is chasing a seventh title in a brilliant season and a hat-trick of triumphs on the trot, having been crowned US Open and China Open champion in recent weeks.
The 16-time Grand Slam winner saw off the Bulgarian Dimitrov in Beijing last week but suffered some hairy moments in getting the better of him again in a nervy quarter-final played in overcast conditions. “Very happy, it was a very tough match, both of us played a very high level of tennis,” said 31-yearold Nadal, the top seed.
“I enjoyed it, a great battle between two players that are playing all the time very focused and intense points all the time.
“A lot of matches in a row winning and very happy with everything, let’s see what happens tomorrow, but being able to win in Beijing and now semifinals here ... tough events against tough players.
“Just focus on holding momentum.”
Nadal edged in front when he got the break of serve in the ninth game of the first set and there was nothing between them as they entered a tense second-set tie break.
Nadal got the mini-break for a 3-0 lead in the tie break, but sixth seed Dimitrov scrapped back to level, and then stunned the Spaniard to clinch the tie break. The two friends headed into a deciding set with Dimitrov in the ascendancy and the proNadal crowd fearing an upset.
Dimitrov sensed another opportunity in the fifth game of the third set, but Nadal survived the break point.
Nadal took the momentum into the next game to immediately break Dimitrov and finally that end the Bulgarian’s resolve. The Spaniard’s victory march was only momentarily held up when a disturbance broke out in the crowd and the players were forced to wait as a small group of spectators was escorted out of the arena. A relieved Nadal looked up to the heavens and raised his arms at the end.
Worked hard
The Croatian fourth seed Cilic — who has defeated Nadal only once in five matches — beat the unseeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-4.
Cilic said his improved consistency was key. “My team has worked really well in all parts of my game just to bring it up to the nice level that I can keep it up throughout every single week,” he said.
“I got to understand also all the things that we were working on. They are quite clear for me and I also am a little bit more consistent this year in serving performances. I’m winning quite a lot of service games and a lot of matches.”
Roger Federer will play Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the other semi-final. The Swiss beat France’s Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-4 and Del Potro prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.
Daria Gavrilova reached the semi-finals of the WTA Hong Kong Open for the second year in succession after a second-set meltdown and an error-strewn win against teenager Lizette Cabrera yesterday.
The Australian world No. 22 eventually came through 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, but only after an almighty struggle with her serve, a string of unforced errors and her own state of mind.
“I have more experience than Liz and I think that helped today,” admitted Gavrilova.
Her opponent today will be Voegele (Switzerland) 6-3, 6-1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) beat Zhu Lin (China) 6-3, 6-4 Sara Errani (Italy) beat Christina McHale (US) 5-7, 7-6, 6-1
Hong Kong Open Women’s Singles Quarter-finals
7-Daria Gavrilova (Australia) beat Lizette Cabrera (Australia) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 Jennifer Brady (US) beat Nicole Gibbs (US) 7-5 6-4 Wang Qiang (China) beat Samantha Stosur (Australia) 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 6-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) beat Naomi Osaka (Japan) 6-3, 6-3 Jennifer Brady who reached a WTA semi-final for the first time in her career with a 7-5, 6-4 win over fellow American Nicole Gibbs.