World number one Jannik Sinner survived a serving barrage from Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the semifinals of the Halle grass-court tournament on Friday.
Germany’s Struff unleashed 18 aces and saved 16 of 18 break points but still went down to a 6-2, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/3) loss to the Italian.
“It was a very tough match,” said Sinner. “I had chances in the second, had chances in the third, but couldn’t use them. I just try to accept these kind of challenges.”
Sinner will face either China’s Zhang Zhizhen or Christopher Eubanks of the United States for a place in the final of the tournament, a key warm-up for Wimbledon which starts on July 1.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev edged closer to his first grass-court title with a come-from-behind victory over Arthur Fils in his quarterfinal.
French Open runner-up Zverev, the world number four, came through 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 against his French opponent.
The 27-year-old, a two-time finalist at Halle, becomes the first man since Roger Federer in 2019 to reach back-to-back semi-finals at the tournament.
“After the French Open, I was hoping on grass I would play a bit quicker and not play for two-and-a-half, three hours every single match, but I’m continuing what I always do,” said Zverev.
Zverev will take on 2022 champion Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the final.
Poland’s world number nine defeated Marcos Giron of the United States 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on the back of 42 winners, including 11 aces.
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