ATP Pune: Simon edges Paire. Anderson and Karlovic march on
The top seed Kevin Anderson has safely reached the semi-final in Pune following a 6-3, 6-3 win over the young Spaniard Jaume Munar in an hour and eight minutes. Anderson lost 15 points in nine service games, facing two break points and suffering one break of serve to mount the pressure on the other side of the net. Jaume lost almost half of the points in his games and he got broken on all four chances he offered to the South African to end his run in the quarters. Kevin saved a break point in game two with a well-constructed attack and he moved ahead with a break at 15 a few minutes later after a costly double fault from Munar.
A smash winner delivered another break for Anderson in game five and Jaume managed to pull one break back at 2-5 to prolong the set before he lost serve for the third time in the next game when Kevin landed a backhand down the line winner for a 6-3. The second set was more fluid and we saw eight easy holds on both sides and one loose service game from Munar that cost him the match. The youngster lost serve at 15 in the fourth game and he couldn't do much on the return by the end of the match, allowing Anderson to wrap up the win with a forehand down the line winner in game nine for the place in the last four.
The 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic is through to his first ATP semi-final since Houston last April and he has become the oldest semi-finalist on the Tour since Jimmy Connors in San Francisco 26 years ago after a 7-6, 7-6 win over Ernests Gulbis in an hour and 45 minutes. Serving at 72% and blasting 25 aces, Ivo repelled all three break points he faced and he prevailed in the deciding moments despite the fact he never earned a break point. Ernests had the opportunity to move ahead early on but Ivo saved a break point with a good serve in game three, serving well in the rest of the set to reach the tie break where he gained a 2-1 lead with a deep return that Gulbis failed to control.
The Croat fired five service winners in six points, securing the opener with an ace at 6-5 and moving a set away from another age milestone on his tally. Ivo needed more good serves to stay unbroken at 3-4 in set number two, blasting two unreturned serves to avoid the break and set another tie break where he trailed 5-3. Gulbis lost the baseline rally in the ninth point after a forehand cross court winner from Ivo and the veteran clinched the win when the Latvian sprayed a backhand error in the 12th point, showing the desire to compete against much younger opponents and seeking the place in the final against Steve Darcis on Friday.
Competing for the first time since November 2017, the unranked Steve Darcis toppled the 4th seed Malek Jaziri 7-5, 6-2 to become the first player with no ranking in the ATP semi-final since the start of the ATP Tour in 1990. The defending champion Gilles Simon prevailed against the compatriot Benoit Paire 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes, saving eight out of 11 break points and stealing Paire's serve thrice from 12 chances, coming from a verge of defeat to stay in contention. Paire led 6-3 4-2 and he served for the win at 5-4 in set number two before Gilles broke back in the very last moment to prolong the set and win the tie break 7-4 to send the encounter into a decider. There, the more experienced player saved all six break points he faced and he grabbed an early break in the opening game to stay in front and book the place in the semis after holding at love in game 10.
Quarter-final result:
[1]Kevin Anderson (RSA) vs [7]Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-3 6-3 [3]Gilles Simon (FRA) vs [5]Benoit Paire (FRA) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4 [PR]Steve Darcis (BEL) vs [4]Malek Jaziri (TUN) 7-5 6-2 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2COwhVr
No comments