Gael Monfils cruised into the semifinals at the Adelaide International 1 with a 6-4 6-1 win over sixth-seeded Tommy Paul in 69 minutes. The Frenchman will face either Mikael Ymer or Australian wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Monfils converted his third break point in the second game of the opening set. Paul broke straight back in the third game and held serve at 15 to draw level to 2-2. Monfils closed out the first set 6-4 with a break in the 10th game.
The second set started with a trade of breaks in the first two games. Monfils broke twice in the fourth and sixth games at deuce to close out the second set 6-1.
“It was a tough match. I had a great and he broke me back. I think I was rushing a little bit on my first serve. I needed a little bit more timing on my first serve to have free points. The nit was just a battle. I felt great”, said Monfils.
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic won 25 of his 29 first service points to beat Laslo Djere 6-3 6-2 in 68 minutes. Cilic earned his first break in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Djere saved three break points to hold serve at deuce in the eighth game. Cilic served out the first set 6-3 at love in the ninth game.
Cilic broke twice in the third and fifth games to seal the second set 6-2 in 68 minutes.
“The match was very solid from start to finish. I served really well. The courts here are quite quick. I feel that’s good for my game. For me, these matches are incredibly valuable. I am hoping that I am going to keep going with wins. Definitely it can grow into my confidence”, said Cilic.
Cilic set up a semifinal clash against olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov, who edged past Egor Khachanov 7-5 6-3.
The opening set started with a trade of breaks in the first two games. Khachanov earned his second break at deuce in the 11th game and saved five break points to hold serve at deuce in a long 12th game. Khachanov opened up a 3-0 lead with a double break in the first and third games. Gerasimov pulled both breaks back to draw level to 3-3. Khachanov won the final three games with two consecutive breaks in the seventh and ninth games.
