TENNIS ATP Master 1000 Rome – Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic, two of the most promising stars, have reached the semifinal stage at the Foro Italico. The Canadian won against Federer’s conqueror Jeremy Chardy. The Bulgarian beat 36 year old Tommy Haas. Diego Sampaolo
Interviews, results, order of play, draws of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome
Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic, two of the most promising stars, have reached the semifinal stage at the Foro Italico.
Raonic has qualified for the second Master 1000 semifinal of his career with a 6-3 5-7 6-2 win over Federer’s conqueror Jeremy Chardy less than one year ago at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Raonic dropped serve for the first time in this tournament when Chardy broke back in the second set and got a second break to avoid the tie-break. The Young Canadian, who is coached by Ivan Ljubicic, broke serve twice to seal the win in the third set with 6-2. Raonic hit 14 aces and won 87 percent of his first serve points
Raonic broke serve in the fourth game of the first set to take a 3-1 lead and backed up the break in the following game. Raonic sealed the first set with two aces after 34 minutes
Chardy made a double fault allowing Raonic to break serve for 3-2. Raonic looked in control of the match but Chardy managed to break back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4.
Chardy earned a set point at 6-5 but Raonic saved it with an ace. The Frenchman converted on his second set point to force the match to the third set.
Raonic got a break in the first game and pulled away to a 5-1 lead with a second break in the fifth game before closing out the match with 6-2. Raonic won 16 points on serve.
“I am happy with a lot of things I did, especially getting myself on track and playing a good third setThat was very important for me, being able to finish the way I did. I don’t think clay will be my best surface but I think it can come close. I have got to keep my foot on the pedal, play aggressive and try to dictate as much as I can. I think the clay can be good for me.”
Dimitrov won the first set 6-2 before 36-year-old Tommy Haas withdrew with a shoulder injury. Dimitrov has reached his first ever Master 1000 semifinal and could move up to the top 10 if he wins the final and Raonic does not win his semifinal.
Dimitrov got two breaks to pull away to a 4-1 lead and backed up the break holding serve in the next game. Haas, who beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round on Thursday, held serve but Dimitrov closed out the first set with 6-2 in 33 minutes.
Dimitrov celebrated his 23rd birthday with his first ever Master 1000 semifinal.
“It’s one of the most memorable days of my life. I am just a happy birthday boy” said Dimitrov
