Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios will meet in a blockbuster Citi Open semifinal after straight-sets wins on Friday. Tsitsipas, the top seed at the ATP 500 event, ran away with a 7-5 6-0 victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire in their quarterfinal.
The Greek star is into his seventh semifinal of the year and is set to rise into the world's top five after his run in Washington. Tsitsipas' win over Paire was not without some controversy, with the 10th seed unhappy with the 20-year-old needing to change shoes early in the second set.
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In what shapes as an entertaining last-four clash, Tsitsipas will face Kyrgios, with the pair having played doubles together in Washington. Kyrgios' fine run continued with an impressive 6-3 6-3 victory over lucky loser Norbert Gombos.
In the other semifinal, Daniil Medvedev will take on Peter Gojowczyk. Russian third seed Medvedev got past sixth seed Marin Cilic 6-4 7-6 (9-7) and lucky loser Gojowczyk upset Kyle Edmund 6-3 4-6 6-3.
In the doubles, brothers Andy and Jamie Murray bowed out in the quarterfinals.
Thiem sets up home final against in-form Ramos-Vinolas
Dominic Thiem's bid for a first Generali Open title continued with a semifinal victory on Friday, but the tricky Albert Ramos-Vinolas lies ahead.
World number four Thiem is chasing a breakthrough victory in home territory and proved too strong for Lorenzo Sonego, the only other seeded player in the last four, as he won 6-3 7-6 (8-6).
The Austrian stayed patient in the opener before piling on the pressure after holding for 4-3, taking the second break point of the match. Sonego broke to lead 2-0 in the second set but could not hold on and bowed to Thiem in a tie-break.
Victory against Ramos-Vinolas is no foregone conclusion, though, with the Spaniard flying high heading into the weekend. Ramos-Vinolas triumphed in Gstaad last week, knocking out three seeded compatriots along the way, and his semi-final triumph in Kitzbuhel on Friday made it nine consecutive ATP Tour victories.
The 31-year-old was too strong for Casper Ruud despite trailing 5-2 in the opening set, recovering to advance 7-5 6-4.
"I changed my tactics, I stepped in a little bit more," Ramos-Vinolas said. "With the forehand, I changed a little more down the line, also with the return, a little bit closer to the lines."
Fritz continues run, to face Schwartzman in Los Cabos final
Taylor Fritz reached his second ATP Tour final in as many weeks, while Diego Schwartzman also moved into the Los Cabos Open decider on Friday.
Fritz's fine form continued with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Radu Albot in their semifinal clash at the ATP 250 tournament.
The American reached the Atlanta Open decider last week, losing to Alex de Minaur, and was dominant against Moldovan seventh seed Albot.
Fritz lost just 10 points on serve and managed to break three times in an impressive victory. The decider will be his fourth ATP final as he looks to add to the title he won at Eastbourne in June.
Awaiting him in the decider is Schwartzman, who overcame Guido Pella 6-3 3-6 6-1 in an all-Argentinian clash. Schwartzman was able to create 18 break-point opportunities, converting four to move into his sixth ATP Tour final.
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