The top seed in Noumea, Adrian Mannarino, proved the gulf in ranking reflects a gulf in class at least at this stage of the event. The Frenchman downed the in-form James McGee 6-2, 6-2 to progress to the semi-finals having not lost a set in his first three matches. McGee had played well in previous rounds, including beating fifth seed Blaz Rola, but simply could not keep up with the top 50 star.
Despite Mannarino tearing through the draw, another high-profile Frenchman did fall. Julien Benneteau proved that he still has a long way to go if he is to prove that he is still a Top 50 player. The Frenchman, who has been seeded in Grand Slam singles events in the past, was dismissed by second seed Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-1. Benneteau had won their last meeting when he was a regular fixture in the top 50 6-2, 6-2 in 2012. However, Falla proved too strong this time, though Benneteau can at least take three competitive fixtures going into the Australian Open.
Quentin Halys joined Benneteau in departing at the quarter-final stage, as the teenager struggled with the serving fire-power of Daniel Brands. Brands hit ten aces, and earned many more free points off his first serve, with Halys struggling to get a read on it. Brands was unconvincing on second serve, unable to win more than half his points on that statistic in either set, but was making enough first serves to make that academic. The German was broken only once, but was bale to break Halys four times to win 6-2, 6-4.
Jordan Thompson ensured that the semi-finals will be contested exclusively by seeds, as the sixth ranked man joined those ranked first, second, and seventh in making the last four. Thompson beat perhaps a surprise name to feature in a hard-court quarter-final draw in Marco Trungelliti, who nonetheless had a impressive win over third seed Edouard Roger-Vasselin to make it this far. He could not reproduce that form today however, as Thompson won 6-4, 6-2.
Semi-final draw and picks (in bold)
(1) Adrian Mannarino vs (7) Daniel Brands
(6) Jordan Thompson vs (2) Alejandro Falla
