Posted: 21/08/2021 – 09:00

Cincinnati (USA) (AFP)

Australia’s world number one Ashley Party and second Russian Daniel Medvedev easily advanced to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Tournament on Friday, one of the women’s 1,000 and men’s masters.

The top four finishers in the tournament qualified for the semifinals.

The party defeated 10th Czech Barbora Krechikova 6-2, 6-4, and Medvedev defeated 12th Spaniard Pablo Carreno Pasta 6-1, 6-1.

On the way to its second Grand Slam title after the French Open 2019, it was the party’s second victory over Krajikekova in two months, as Australia beat this year’s Roland Kross champion in the 16th round of Wimbledon last month.

“I feel like I did a good job in my service,” she said after the win. “In everything but one service of mine, I felt controlled.”

The party, 25, will face German Angelique Gerber, who qualified at the expense of Czech Petra Kvitova, in the last four, when the latter withdrew 6-4, 3-3 due to abdominal pain.

The party came to Cincinnati after a disappointing first round at the Tokyo Olympics, where she was the leading candidate to win gold in the mixed doubles category before being rewarded with bronze, while winning gold in the women’s doubles category.

The party hopes to prepare better for the US Open, which starts later this month.

Australian Gerber lost 3-3 in straight sets at this year’s Wimbledon semi-finals.

“Even on days when she doesn’t play well, she finds a way and struggles to stay in the tournament and gives herself a chance to win. Angie is one of the best competitors in the world. Learn to play in important tournaments. And tournaments,” he said after the win.

After an easy win in the first set, the party lost its service in the third game of the second game before responding to the eighth, which was renewed in an hour and 11 minutes in the tenth, decisive match.

The fairy tale of wildcard participant Gill Deachman of Switzerland defeated Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-2.

“Everything went well and I felt comfortable from the beginning,” the 24-year-old winner said.

He will face fifth-seeded Carolina Bliskova of the Czech Republic in the final, stopping the campaign of Spaniard Paula Padusa 7-5, 2-0 before he was ruled out with a right shoulder injury.

– Top four –

In the men, Medvedev avenged seventh-placed Spaniard Pablo Carino-Posta, who finished the fight in 54 minutes before reaching the bronze from the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics.

This was the Russian’s fourth victory over the Spaniards in the sixth clash between them.

“I had a great feeling during the match,” the Russian said. “Under these conditions, you try to win as quickly as possible, especially against Carino Pusta, who can come back at any time and impress you with long rallies.”

Medvedev, who won for the eighth time in a row, continued, “I kept trying to put pressure on him, and I’m glad I did.”

Medvedev, who was crowned at the Toronto Masters last week, set a date with his teammate Andrei Rublev, the seventh disciple in the world to qualify at a cost of 6-2, 3-6, 6 to French player Benoit Pierre (50). -3.

For the first time since Rome 2013 there was beer for the quarterfinals of the Masters.

Medvedev has won four of his matches against Rublev, including the quarterfinals of the tournament when he won the Russian title in 2019.

“I’m happy to play against him because it’s a good challenge for me to see what needs to be improved,” the Russian commented.

Greek second seed Stefanos Chitsibas needed three sets to beat Canadian Felix Agar-Aliasimi 6-2 5-7 6-1 to reach his ninth semifinal this season.

“It made things harder for me in the second group and I had to find different solutions,” he said. “In third place I increased my intensity.”

He continued, “I was waiting a lot to get points in the third. But I was determined, not smooth.”

Norwegian Caspar Root, a three-time champion this summer, went dirty in three weeks, ahead of German Alexander Sverrev, who was crowned 6-1, 6-3 at the last Tokyo Olympics.

21 2021 AFP