A boosted Alexander Bublik provided entertainment on Friday at the Open Sud de France, upsetting the world No. 1. 19 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) to advance to the semi-finals in Montpellier.
The sixth seed showed an abundance of flair throughout his two-hour-and-four-minute victory over the 2021 runner-up as he combined a big serve with precise dropshots to make it 2-1 in their ATP Head2Head series.
“It’s always difficult to play against Roberto,” Bublik said during his on-court interview. “He’s a great competitor, so I knew I had to stay focused and serve well. Thanks to the crowd for being there and helping me once again. I think I played a great match. »
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Bublik fired 26 aces against Bautista Agut as he continued his quest for his maiden tour-level title in Montpellier. The 35-year-old world number, who claimed a personal best 35 wins in 2021, is just one place below his career-high ATP rankings. The 24-year-old will next face Serbian Filip Krajinovic in his eighth tour-level semi-final.
Krajinovic booked his place in the last four in Montpellier for the second time, beating Bosnian qualifier Damir Dzumhur 7-5, 6-2 in an hour and 39 minutes.
“I knew he was a very talented player,” Krajinovic said during his on-court interview. We have known each other for a long time. We were both tight in the first set, but I managed to find a way to win the set. In the second set I stuck with my game and I’m happy to be in the semis again.
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The fifth seed, who had a run to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 event in 2020, rebounded after a breakdown in the first set against Dzumhur before taking control in the second set with his ball aggressive striking to triumph in their first set. ATP Head2Head meeting.
The 29-year-old is aiming to win his first tour-level title in Montpellier, having reached four finals at this level.
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