Danil Medvedev beat defending champion Felix Auger Aliassime 6-2 6-4 in a 83-minute quarter final to reach the semifinal at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. Medvedev hit five unforced errors to Auger Aliassime’s 20 and broke serve four times.
Medvedev has advanced to the semifinal for the semifinal for the second time in Rotterdam after achieving this feat in 2019. The sixth seed forced Auger Aliassime to push a forehand long for his first break of serve in the fifth game.
Medvedev earned a double break in the seventh game to build up a 5-2 after Auger Aliassime’s forehand clipped the net and flew long. The 15-time ATP Tour titlist went up a set and a break in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead, but Auger Aliassime broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Medvedev earned a second break in the seventh game to extend his winning streak in the head-to-head matches against Auger Aliassime to 5-0.
“Today was my best match of the week, but I have to build on this. Usually, the best weeks you play, many times you are going to play your best tennis in the last match, so that’s definitely a goal. I am happy with my level, because someone like Felix in straight sets”, said Medvedev.
The Russian player will take on Grigor Dimitrov, who saved two match points to beat Alex De Minaur, 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in 2 hours and 34 minutes in the opening quarter final.
“I know the plan for the game. He is going to try the same, to make up a good plan. If we take the last two matches, it’s 1-1. I always say a new match is a new match, no matter the head to head. I am preparing for a tough match tomorrow. He is such a great player and today was a great match from him, a great comeback actually. I am ready for a tough fight tomorrow”, said Medvedev.
Dimitrov has returned to the semifinal in Rotterdam for the first time since 2018, when he reached the match.
Dimitrov earned his first break in the fourth game to win the opening set 6-3. De Minaur went up a double break in the second and fourth games to race out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. Dimitrov pulled one break back in the seventh game for 2-5, as De Minaur was serving for the set. De Minaur closed it out 6-3 on his second set point.
Dimitrov saved two match points at 4-6 and won four consecutive points to seal the tie-break with a forehand passing shot.
Sinner reaches his first semifinal in Rotterdam
Jannik Sinner cruised past 2015 Rotterdam Stan Wawrinka 6-1 6-3 to reach to the ABN AMRO Tournament’s semifinals for the first time in his career.
Sinner earned his first break in the opening game and saved three break points in the second game to hold serve at deuce to open up a 2-0 lead. The Italian player broke twice more in the fifth and seventh game to seal the opening set 6-1.
Sinner went up a break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, but Wawrinka pulled back on serve in the fifth game and held on his serve to draw level to 3-3. Sinner sealed the win with a second break in the eighth game after 1 hour and 12 minutes. Sinner has extended his winning streak to six consecutive matches. Last week he beat Maxime Cressy in the championships match en route to his sixth ATP title in Montpellier.
Sinner set up a semifinal against Tallon Griekspoor, who beat Gijs Brower 6-4 6-4 with a break in each set.
“I just try to play every match with a high intensity, try to play my game, try to adapt to myself. The first round match was very important for me, then I try to keep going, to get more rhythm. Today it was a good match. It’s never easy to play against him, so I am very happy”, said Sinner.
