Karen Khachanov advanced to his first ATP World Tour semi-final in eight months by defeating France’s Julien Benneteau, the 2010 runner-up, 6-4, 6-4 in 84 minutes at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille on Friday. "It was quite a solid match,” said Khachanov. “I didn’t make many first serves in the first couple of games, getting broken in my first service game, but then I got stronger." The 21-year-old Russian, who struck 16 aces past Benneteau (for 35 aces overall in three matches this week), reached the Gerry Weber Open semi-finals (l. to Federer) in June 2017. The last Russian to contest the Marseille final was Yevgeny Kafelnikov, a former No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, who beat Sebastian Grosjean of France...
Former Marseille finalist Tomas Berdych was prepared for a tough match on Thursday at the Open 13 Provence but not that tough. The 2013 finalist overcame 18 aces from Italian qualifier Stefano Travaglia to reach the quarter-finals 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3. Berdych broke in the third and ninth games in the decider to advance in two hours and 14 minutes. “I was expecting a tough battle but I think this one was a little beyond my expectations. I think he played really, really well... He was playing a very good match,” said Berdych, who will next meet Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur. Second seed Stan Wawrinka had to retire just 12 games into his first match in Marseille. The Swiss, who's on the...
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, top seeds at Delray Beach Open, advanced past #NextGenATP stars Taylor Fritz and Stefan Kozlov, 7-5, 6-0 on Wednesday. The four-time champions needed one hour, two minutes to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they'll face fellow Americans Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow. In other action, top seeds Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus reached the Open 13 Provence semi-finals after a 6-3, 6-3 win over Florin Mergea and Daniel Nestor. Klaasen and Venus reached their second semi-final of the season (Auckland) with great composure, saving all six break points they faced in the 57-minute contest. Rohan Bopanna and Edouard Roger-Vasselin needed a Match tie-break to join Klaasen and Venus in the final four. The...
After saving four match points in his opening match on Monday, seventh seed Damir Dzumhur needed another stunning comeback to reach the Open 13 Provence quarter-finals on Wednesday. The 25-year-old found himself 0/5 down in a third-set tie-break, but reeled off seven consecutive points to overcome Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-6(5). Dzumhur had led the final set by a double break at 4-1, before the Italian grabbed the momentum to fight back and establish a substantial final-set tie-break lead. But, as he did on Monday, Dzumhur produced his best level under intense pressure to rally to victory. The World No. 29 will next face Tomas Berdych or Stefano Travaglia for a place in the semi-finals. France’s Lucas Pouille twice...
Get ready for breath taking skills as trick-shot artist Stefan Bojic gives the ATP an alternative tour of Marseille, where the Open 13 Provence is taking place this week.
