Shapovalov remains perfect at Japan Open, beats Coric to advance to semifinal
'I think I played great today,' said Canadian, who will meet American Taylor Fritz next
Canadian Denis Shapovalov remains perfect at the Japan Open.
The seventh-seeded Canadian advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Croatia's Borna Coric on Friday.
"I think I played great today," said Shapovalov. "In general, my level the last two weeks has been great, so I'm very happy to be back in the semis."
The 26-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont. native, who is coming off a final appearance at the Korean Open on Sunday, has yet to lose a set in Tokyo.
WATCH l Shapovalov tops Noguchi to reach quarter-finals:
Shapovalov will next face American Taylor Fritz, who advanced to the Japan Open semifinals after Nick Kyrgios withdrew because of a left knee injury on Friday.
Fritz, who spent a week in quarantine after testing testing positive for COVID-19 in Seoul last week, will meet Shapovalov for the fifth time in his career. The Canadian was a winner in four of those matches.
The 23-year-old Fritz was a last-minute arrival in Tokyo, due to his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Frances Tiafoe reached the semifinals by beating Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-4. Tiafoe, who has not dropped a set in Tokyo, will be making his fourth semifinal appearance this season.
"I was moving really well. I hit the ball well from the back of the court," Tifoe said. "I made it really tough for Miomir today. He played some great tennis. I was lucky enough to get it done in straight sets. Performances like this are big."
Tiafoe will next take on Kwon Soon-woo. The South Korean defeated Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-0.
Kyrgios' knee injury also forced him to withdraw from the doubles semifinals, where he and partner Thanasi Kokkinakis were scheduled to play Mackenzie McDonald and Marcelo Melo.
Djokovic to meet Medvedev in Astana semis
Novak Djokovic didn't play as well in his Astana Open quarter-final on Friday as he did in the first two rounds.
"Still, it was enough," Djokovic said after beating Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3.
"I managed to produce some good tennis when it was the most needed."
Djokovic conceded a 3-0 lead but broke Khachanov for the first set with a backhand volley. He broke Khachanov for 3-1 in the second and finished their quarter-final with an ace.
A <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> special! 💥<a href="https://twitter.com/ktf_kz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ktf_kz</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstanaOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstanaOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/8p9iNmXcGx">pic.twitter.com/8p9iNmXcGx</a>
—@atptourDaniil Medvedev awaits in the semifinals. Medvedev has a 4-6 win-loss record against Djokovic, and they haven't met since the Paris final last November, when Djokovic won in three sets.
"I thought about it before the [quarter-final] and we have only played one tournament together this year, which was Roland Garros," Medvedev said. "This is the second one and we meet again and I am really happy."
Medvedev was too consistent and good for Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-1. Bautista Agut went in with 4-1 record against Medvedev but was blown away.
The other semifinal pits third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev. Tsitsipas leads their matchups 5-4.
Tsitsipas hasn't dropped serve this week after saving five set points in the tiebreaker against Hubert Hurkacz.
"Most of those situations, I was not the fortunate one serving," Tsitsipas said of the set points. "I was still able to break through and get back fighting, and it was very, very emotional to get that first tiebreak after having thrown my body on the court."
Tsitsipas prevailed 7-6 (8), 6-3 to reach his ninth semifinal this year.
Rublev took care of Adrian Mannarino of France 6-1, 6-2.
