ATP Geneva: Alexander Zverev survives Dellien test. Jarry and Albot advance
Playing on clay for the seventh straight week (only five wins in the previous six tournaments), world no. 5 Alexander Zverev had to work hard against Hugo Dellien, prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 21 minutes for the first semi-final in three months. The German won five points more than the Bolivian who has played some decent tennis this year to achieve a career-high ranking, saving five out of eight break points and scoring four breaks of serve to cross the finish line first. The opening set lasted for an hour and, just like the rest of this spring, it was a nightmare for the top seed, trailing 5-3 and saving a set point before he stole it 7-5. Hugo kicked off the match with a break in game two after a terrible forehand from the German who survived six game points for Dellien in game five before breaking back and returning to the positive side of the scoreboard.
Hugo moved ahead again at 4-3 and had a set point in the next game, denied by a backhand winner from Zverev who broke back after a backhand mistake from the Bolivian. Alexander grabbed another break at 5-5 following a forehand error from Dellien and clinched the opener with a service winner for a 7-5 after an hour. The Bolivian saved a break point in the third game of the second set (Zverev suffered a nasty fall a few points before that) and broke in the next game with a forced error from the German, forging a 3-1 lead and hitting a service winner in game nine for a 6-3 and a deciding set. There, both players had three breaks chances up for grabs and Alexander converted one in game four thanks to a loose forehand from his opponent, taking the lead and moving over the top after another forehand error from Dellien to advance into the semi-final.
Nicolas Jarry needed an hour and 18 minutes to dismiss Taro Daniel 6-1, 7-5 and join Zverev in the last four, dropping only ten points on serve and converting three out of seven break points for straight sets triumph and the best result since Kitzbuhel 2018. Delivering big serves and forehands, the Chilean saved both break points he faced in the third game of the match and grabbed two breaks of his own in games four and six for a 6-1. Unable to make an impact on the return, Daniel stayed in contention until the 11th game of the second set when Jarry scored the crucial break, sailing into the semi-final with a hold at love in the next game. The 5th seed Radu Albot took down Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 38 minutes after taking half of the return points while Federico Delbonis prevailed against Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6, 7-6 in an hour and 41 minutes in the encounter with just four break points.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2HU4i8b
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