ATP Washington: Stefanos Tsitsipas sets Nick Kyrgios clash. Medvedev wins
World no. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the seventh ATP semi-final of the season and the first since Rome in May, defeating the 10th seed Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-0 in an hour and 14 minutes. The Greek tamed his strokes in a more efficient way, dropping 15 points behind the initial shot and fending off five out of six break points to mount the pressure on Paire who stayed in touch only in the first set, losing the ground in the second to push Stefanos into the last four, serving at only 45% and suffering five breaks of serve. Benoit drew first blood in the third game after a deep return, staying in front only for a couple of minutes before Stefanos broke back to level the score at 2-2. The youngster lost three points in the last four service games and Paire couldn't repeat that, getting broken at love at 5-6 following a loose forehand to hand the opener to his rival after 40 minutes.
Tsitsipas was the only player on the court in set number two, staying focused despite controversy over shoe breaks on both sides and moving over the top with the fourth straight break of serve in game six to advance into the semi-final for the second year in a row. Nick Kyrgios is through to the second semi-final in 2019 after winning the title in Acapulco back in March, beating Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-3 in 57 minutes to set Tsitsipas clash. Blasting 19 aces, Kyrgios lost eight points behind the initial shot, firing 26 winners and ten unforced errors to leave the rival behind and march into the semis with three breaks of serve. Gombos got broken in the very first game of the match following a double fault, missing the opportunity to break back in game four when Kyrgios fended off two break points with a couple of booming serves and suffering another break at 3-5 to give the set to the Aussie.
Nick lost four points on serve in set number two, showing incredible skills in the sixth gamer to break Norbert at love and move 4-2 up. Serving for the victory, Kyrgios landed four service winners in the ninth game to complete a great day at the office and stay on the title course. In a high-quality encounter, Daniil Medvedev took down Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 34 minutes, hitting 34 winners and 14 unforced errors to mount the pressure on Marin who finished on the losing side despite one break of serve he allowed. The opening set was decided in the fifth game when Daniil grabbed a break, holding at 5-4 to wrap up the set and hoping for more of the same in the rest of the clash. Nothing could have separated them in set number two, with 12 commanding holds that propelled them into the tie break where the servers claimed the first 15 points.
Marin saved two match points at 5-6 and 7-8, wasting the set point at 7-6 and sending the Russian through after the only mini-break in the 16th point. World no. 122 Peter Gojowczyk entered the draw as a lucky loser and will now compete in the semi-final after a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 triumph over Kyle Edmund in just under two hours. The German hit 14 aces and saved six out of seven break points, challenging Edmund to repeat the same and stealing the Briton's serve three times to advance into the first semi-final since Geneva 2018.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2KmC9Yx
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