Third seed Richard Gasquet is through to the Shenzhen Open semi-finals after edging qualifier Mischa Zverev 7-6(4), 7-6(2) on Friday. The Frenchman prevailed in just over two hours to claim his 28th win of the season. Zverev had not dropped a set in advancing to his first ATP World Tour quarter-final in almost a year, but came up just short against Gasquet, despite saving 11 of 14 break points. The German was looking to reach his first semi-final in six years. The 30-year-old Gasquet is chasing his second ATP World Tour title of the season, following victory in Montpellier in February (d. Mathieu). It has been, at times, a frustrating year for the right-hander, hampered by back, rib and abdominal...
Defending champion Tomas Berdych stayed undefeated at the Shenzhen Open on Thursday. The top-seeded Czech delivered 16 aces and withstood a tight contest from Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin to move into the quarter-finals 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in about two hours. Berdych and Kukushkin both won exactly 84 points during their second-round match but the Czech was more clutch when the match was on the line. Serving at 5/4 in the second-set tie-break, Berdych delivered his 16th ace. Kukushkin netted a backhand on match point to give Berdych his fifth consecutive win in Shenzhen. “It wasn't easy at all,” said Berdych. [ALSO LIKE] The 31-year-old right-hander is trying to reach his first final of the season. The nine-month drought is the longest Berdych...
Despite an ace count half his opponent’s, Bernard Tomic delivered a composed performance at crucial moments to end qualifier Ryan Harrison’s three-match Shenzhen Open winning streak on Thursday. The Australian No. 4 seed broke in the final game of the match to emerge with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory in just over two hours. It marks the 23 year old’s eighth ATP World Tour quarter-final this season and sets up a clash with Brazilian lefty Thomaz Bellucci, an earlier winner over lucky loser Thomas Fabbiano. Tomic withstood 20 aces from Harrison and won fewer first-serve points than the American, 68 per cent to 81 per cent. But the Aussie made bigger inroad’s on his opponent’s second serve to extend his...
Follow all the latest off-court action on MyATP! Download the app for iPhone or Android or visit MyATP.com. Shenzhen Open – Shenzhen, China Tomas Berdych, David Goffin, Jiri Vesely and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez were among the stars to attend the players’ party at Shangri-la Hotel. Berdych and Goffin, the top two seeds, also learned the art of calligraphy at the event. Elsewhere, Goffin learned to make traditional Chinese dishes during a private cooking lesson. The Belgian joined chef Anthony Dong at Shang Palace restaurant at Shenzhen Shangri-La Hotel to whip up Tofu Soup and Peking Duck. Read More Top seed Berdych visited Kaisa City Plaza for a Q&A session. Thomaz Bellucci and Stephane Robert kicked off the Shenzhen Open with some mini tennis at the Futian Shangri-La Hotel. Jonathan...