Daniil Medvedev had no difficulty overcoming Roberto Bautista Agut and qualifying for the semi-finals in Halle. Karen Khachanov, meanwhile, fell in three sets to Oscar Otte.
Daniil Medvedev has no rank. The world number 1 will be there for the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Halle. Indeed, the Russian did not make any detail against Roberto Bautista Agut, seeded number 7 on the German turf. After missing a break point in the first game, Daniil Medvedev had to dismiss one in the fourth game before making his mark on this first set. Indeed, winning her serve, the tournament’s No. 1 seed initiated a streak of five consecutively won games. Beyond a double break lead, the consequence of this series was the victory of the first set for Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, who remains disillusioned with Tim van Rijthoven in the final at ‘S-Hertogenbosch last weekend, was challenged at the start of the second set but was able to fend off three break points in his first game of serve before saving a fourth in the sixth. Daniil Medvedev then raised his voice and took advantage of the often crucial seventh game to take Roberto Bautista Agut’s serve before resisting. Indeed, in the process, the 20th player in the world had three opportunities to unbreak, without success. On his first match point, the world number 1 sealed the fate of this meeting (6-2, 6-4 in 1h26′).
Otte surprend Khachanov
But there will be no 100% Russian semi-final this Saturday in Halle. In effect, No. 8 seed Karen Khachanov gave in to stage local Oscar Otte. The start of the match saw the two players leveling off but it only took a break point to allow the Russian to take the lead and then, on a shutout, win the first set. The second set saw Karen Khachanov continue to take the initiative in the game but failed to convert the three break points obtained very early. The two players then neutralized each other and it was in the decisive game that they were able to decide. Winning the last three points, Oscar Otte was able to pick up a run everywhere. If Karen Khachanov had the first three break points of the third set, it was the German who took his opponent’s service on a shutout to lead four games to two. At the time of concluding his engagement, the 51st player in the world trembled but knew how to dismiss the two break points against him before converting his first match point (4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in 2h10 ‘).
