MADRID, 7 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Russian Karén Khachanov and the Norwegian Casper Ruud advanced to the semifinals of the US Open, the last ‘Grand Slam’ of the season, after beating Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini, respectively, in the quarters, while the French Caroline Garcia and the Tunisian Ons Jabeur also became the first semifinalists in the women’s draw, after defeating Coco Gauff and Ajla Tomljanovic.
Khachanov submitted Kyrgios in five sets (7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(3) and 6-4) in a tough battle that lasted up to three hours and forty minutes. With his powerful serve as his main weapon, the Russian interrupted the Australian’s career in New York, where he had shown great tennis and inspiration, aspiring to lift his first ‘Big’. Thus, the Russian will play his first ‘Grand Slam’ semifinals and will fight to continue dreaming at the US Open.
The Russian connected 30 aces against Kyrgios, the player with the most wins on the circuit since last June, to take the effectiveness to its maximum splendor, completing an immaculate match in which he won all the games with his serve in the three sets that won. In addition, Khachanov saved during the match seven of nine break opportunities that he faced with his serve, to combat the flashes of a Kyrgios who was very intermittent, only boosted by the push of an audience dedicated to his cause.
Khachanov will face off in the semifinals with Casper Ruud, who beat Italian Matteo Berretini this morning in three sets (6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4)). The Norwegian, who will play his second semifinal of the ‘Grand Slam’ and still with options to be number one -if he is champion or if he reaches the final and Alcaraz does not make it-, overwhelmed the number 14 in the world, being much superior in the first two sleeves.
Without getting his serve right and showing signs of deconcentration, Berrettini did not make a war until the third set, in which he went up 5-2. An advantage that he would let slip in favor of Ruud, who came back to force a ‘tie-break’ that fell on his side. The other two quarterfinal matches will be Rublev-Tiafoe and Sinner-Alcaraz.
GARCÍA AND JABEUR WILL FIGHT FOR A PLACE IN THE FINAL OF THE US OPEN
In the women’s draw, Caroline Garcia beat Coco Gauff (6-3, 6-4) to reach her first ‘Grand Slam’ semifinal at the US Open, showing her best level of tennis so far. The American, who came with great dynamics, was not as effective as the rest of the summer and was unable to respond positively to the Frenchwoman’s big forehand during her duel in the quarters.
Despite Gauff’s powerful serve, Garcia held her ground from return and quickly made it 4-0 in the first set, finding the corners and lines to drive the American to despair. His superiority lasted throughout the duel to fly directly to the semifinals and continue his rise. The world number 17 will return to the top 10 after her colossal victory, as well as being the first Frenchwoman to reach the US Open semifinals since Amélie Mauresmo in 2006.
Opposite will be the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who became the first African woman to reach the US Open semifinals thanks to her victory over Ajla Tomljanovic, executioner of Serena Williams, this Tuesday (6-4, 7-6 (4)) . The fifth seed brought out all her qualities to overcome the power of the Croatian.
The Tunisian player won the two previous matches against Garcia, both in ‘Grand Slam’. On the other side of the draw, world number one Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, and Czech Karolina Pliskova and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka will contest the other two quarterfinal matches.