French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday showed scant respect to reputation or rankings as he dispatched top seed Denis Shapovalov of Canada in straight sets to reach the semi-finals at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Also on Thursday, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia overcame a stuttering start to beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in three sets to reach his second successive semi-final at the $1.2mn tournament.
Rinderknech, up against a formidable opponent, looked remarkably at ease on the Centre Court to win 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 20 minutes. In the semi-final today, Rinderknech will take on Basilashvili, the last year’s winner.
Basilashvili, down by one set, rallied in slick fashion to carve out a gutsy 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win in a 2 hour and 13-minute marathon in what were labelled as ‘chilly conditions’ by the 29-year-old Georgian.
Meanwhile, former champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain crushed compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 in 1 hour and 17 minutes to set up a clash against sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia. Khachanov rallied from a set down to beat fourth seed Croatia’s Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in exactly two hours. Thanks largely to a composed game from the baseline in the deciding set, Basilashvili is level at 3-all in head-to-head meetings with Fucsovics. The defending champion is 11-3 in Doha where he beat
Bautista Agut in last year’s final.
On Wednesday, Basilashvili ended his 8-match losing streak with his victory over Sweden’s Elais Ymer for first win in his 7th match of the season. The Georgian entered Doha last year on a five-match losing streak and ended the tournament as the champion.
Basilashvili admitted it was an exhausting clash against Fucsovics in ‘tough’ conditions’. “I think it was really tough conditions, especially for me. It got a little bit cold, windy, so it's really difficult to control the ball,” Basilashvili said after the match.
“You need a lot of physical fitness to approach the ball and execute a shot. I got a little bit tired in the nd but I'm really happy that I was able to get through in the end,” he added.
The Georgian star said he had to change his tactics because of the wind. “I had to change many things, but mostly I had to put a lot of fitness into a match and so far it paid off. You know, I love coming back here. I really like this Centre Court, but every tournament is new (and that's why) there is no special expectation. I will come and defend my title, but I just love coming back here. I am looking forward to playing the semi-final,” Basilashvili said.
Fucsovics, 30, yesterday broke Basilashvili in games four and six to seal the first set in just 31 minutes. Basilashvili, however, picked up the pieces in the second set and with momentum on his side, he broke the Hungarian in game six to jump to a 4-2 lead before quickly wrapping up the second set at 6-3.
After losing his serve in game two of the third set, Basilashvili broke Fucsovics – a three-time Doha quarter-finalist - in games five and 11 to seal the match in his favour.
Basilashvili said his semi-final opponent Rinderknech will be hard to beat. “We played last year once on grass and I know how he's playing. I think he's improved a lot lately and it will be interesting. But he has a big serve, very good volleys and lines. So let's see. It will be interesting,” he said with a glum look.
Earlier, playing just for the second time against Shapovalov, Rinderknech sealed his 9th win of the season against just three losses. The Frenchman said he won’t forget his win for some time to come.
“It feels pretty good, especially when it's your best win of your career. I think so. I'm not going to complain and enjoy it tonight,” Rinderknech after his straight-sets win.
“Well, I don't know,” Rinderknech said when asked if he feared any player in Doha. “I'm just trying to take one match at a time. I'm coming back from small injuries that I got in Australia, so I'm just enjoying my time on court. Happy to be healthy and ready to play,” he added.
Rinderknech broke Shapovalov in game seven before holding his serve to take the first set. A service break by Rinderknech in the first game of the second set helped him to build fine momentum as the 26-year-old secured his win without dropping serve.
“That's what I'm trying to do every day – enjoy my time on court. I get better enjoying my time on court and just having fun playing matches all around the world,” Rinderknech said.
“The courts here are great and the facilities are unbelievable. I still haven't seen a cloud this week so I'm enjoying the sun. It feels great after a short period in Europe where it's colder, but yeah, just enjoying my week here,” the Frenchman added.
Quarter-finals Results
(x denotes seeding):
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x1) 6-4, 6-4; Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x3) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5; Karen Khachanov (RUS x6) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x4) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x2) bt Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-1, 6-1
FRIDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court starts at 3:45pm: Doubles Final: Rohan Bopanna/Denis Shapovalov vs (3) Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski
Not Before 6:00pm: singles semi-finals: Arthur Rinderknech vs (3) Nikoloz Basilashvili; Followed By
(4) Marin Cilic vs (2) Roberto Bautista Agut
Also on Thursday, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia overcame a stuttering start to beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in three sets to reach his second successive semi-final at the $1.2mn tournament.
Rinderknech, up against a formidable opponent, looked remarkably at ease on the Centre Court to win 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 20 minutes. In the semi-final today, Rinderknech will take on Basilashvili, the last year’s winner.
Basilashvili, down by one set, rallied in slick fashion to carve out a gutsy 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win in a 2 hour and 13-minute marathon in what were labelled as ‘chilly conditions’ by the 29-year-old Georgian.
Meanwhile, former champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain crushed compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 in 1 hour and 17 minutes to set up a clash against sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia. Khachanov rallied from a set down to beat fourth seed Croatia’s Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in exactly two hours. Thanks largely to a composed game from the baseline in the deciding set, Basilashvili is level at 3-all in head-to-head meetings with Fucsovics. The defending champion is 11-3 in Doha where he beat
Bautista Agut in last year’s final.
On Wednesday, Basilashvili ended his 8-match losing streak with his victory over Sweden’s Elais Ymer for first win in his 7th match of the season. The Georgian entered Doha last year on a five-match losing streak and ended the tournament as the champion.
Basilashvili admitted it was an exhausting clash against Fucsovics in ‘tough’ conditions’. “I think it was really tough conditions, especially for me. It got a little bit cold, windy, so it's really difficult to control the ball,” Basilashvili said after the match.
“You need a lot of physical fitness to approach the ball and execute a shot. I got a little bit tired in the nd but I'm really happy that I was able to get through in the end,” he added.
The Georgian star said he had to change his tactics because of the wind. “I had to change many things, but mostly I had to put a lot of fitness into a match and so far it paid off. You know, I love coming back here. I really like this Centre Court, but every tournament is new (and that's why) there is no special expectation. I will come and defend my title, but I just love coming back here. I am looking forward to playing the semi-final,” Basilashvili said.
Fucsovics, 30, yesterday broke Basilashvili in games four and six to seal the first set in just 31 minutes. Basilashvili, however, picked up the pieces in the second set and with momentum on his side, he broke the Hungarian in game six to jump to a 4-2 lead before quickly wrapping up the second set at 6-3.
After losing his serve in game two of the third set, Basilashvili broke Fucsovics – a three-time Doha quarter-finalist - in games five and 11 to seal the match in his favour.
Basilashvili said his semi-final opponent Rinderknech will be hard to beat. “We played last year once on grass and I know how he's playing. I think he's improved a lot lately and it will be interesting. But he has a big serve, very good volleys and lines. So let's see. It will be interesting,” he said with a glum look.
Earlier, playing just for the second time against Shapovalov, Rinderknech sealed his 9th win of the season against just three losses. The Frenchman said he won’t forget his win for some time to come.
“It feels pretty good, especially when it's your best win of your career. I think so. I'm not going to complain and enjoy it tonight,” Rinderknech after his straight-sets win.
“Well, I don't know,” Rinderknech said when asked if he feared any player in Doha. “I'm just trying to take one match at a time. I'm coming back from small injuries that I got in Australia, so I'm just enjoying my time on court. Happy to be healthy and ready to play,” he added.
Rinderknech broke Shapovalov in game seven before holding his serve to take the first set. A service break by Rinderknech in the first game of the second set helped him to build fine momentum as the 26-year-old secured his win without dropping serve.
“That's what I'm trying to do every day – enjoy my time on court. I get better enjoying my time on court and just having fun playing matches all around the world,” Rinderknech said.
“The courts here are great and the facilities are unbelievable. I still haven't seen a cloud this week so I'm enjoying the sun. It feels great after a short period in Europe where it's colder, but yeah, just enjoying my week here,” the Frenchman added.
Quarter-finals Results
(x denotes seeding):
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x1) 6-4, 6-4; Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x3) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5; Karen Khachanov (RUS x6) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x4) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x2) bt Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-1, 6-1
FRIDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court starts at 3:45pm: Doubles Final: Rohan Bopanna/Denis Shapovalov vs (3) Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski
Not Before 6:00pm: singles semi-finals: Arthur Rinderknech vs (3) Nikoloz Basilashvili; Followed By
(4) Marin Cilic vs (2) Roberto Bautista Agut