2019 AO Play-off: Bolt, Saville, Duckworth and Banes advance into semis
The 17th edition of the Australian Open Play-off at Melbourne Park has entered the second phase after the quarter-final clashes that were completed on Wednesday morning. The top seed and by far the best-ranked player in the draw, Alex Bolt, reached the semis for the second year in a row after a 6-2 6-7(6) 6-2 6-0 win over the 5th seed Akira Santillan. Alex had to regroup his game after missing set points in set number two but he did enough in the remaining two sets to bring the match home without further troubles. A former junior number 1 and the Australian Open junior winner Luke Saville stayed in the title hunt following a 7-5 3-6 6-2 7-6(3) win over Dayne Kelly in three and a half hours.
Luke prevailed in two close sets and he also dominated in the third to overcome the second set deficit and secure a win without having to play a five-setter. 2015 champion James Duckworth defeated the national junior champion Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 to continue his charge, saving a break point in the 10th game of the second set to forge a huge lead. The youngster survived a tough seventh game of the third set, breaking Duckworth in the game that followed and closing the set with a hold at 15 at 5-3.
James earned a break at 4-3 in the fourth set after a double fault from a teenager and he clinched the win with a backhand winner in the next game to reach the last four. The 6th seed Maverick Banes toppled the 2nd seed John-Patrick Smith 6-4 6-7(3) 1-6 6-0 6-2 after a great display in sets three and four where he won 12 out of 14 games to secure the triumph and stay in contention for the title.
Quarter-final results:
[1]Alex Bolt vs [5]Akira Santillan 6-2 6-7(6) 6-2 6-0 [WC]Luke Saville vs Dayne Kelly 7-5 3-6 6-2 7-6(3) [3]James Duckworth vs [WC]Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 [6]Maverick Banes vs [2]John-Patrick Smith 6-4 6-7(3) 1-6 6-0 6-2
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Esxync
No comments