Dan Evans defeats Tommy Paul to advance to the Canadian Open semifinals, but Jack Draper loses to Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets.
Great Britain Dan Evans advanced to the Canadian Open semifinals on Friday night, but jack draperThe memorable run of has come to an end.
Evans had already gotten the better of Taylor Fritz and Andrei Rublev before meeting the USA Tommy Paul in the semi-finals, but the American got off to a good start.
Paul cruised to a 6-1 first set victory before Evans came back to force a third set, as the American continued to play some tricky shots at the net and work Evans all over the court.
However, the world number 39 remained defiant, managing to save six break points and find himself on match point on Paul’s serve, but the American saved it with a forehand smash after a stunning rally .
Evans could only applaud his counterpart’s efforts before being forced to serve out the game, and he did so as Paul’s backhand return landed just wide of the touchline for a 1- 6 6-3 6-4.
“You never know what’s going to happen. It was an incredible game, an incredible atmosphere. I’ve played on the pitch before. During the day it was incredible, but at night there is something to do sports at night, it’s very special,” Evans told reporters during his post-match press conference.
“When I got ahead I really took it to Tommy and that’s kind of been my way through this week so far, and I’ve done it well, I was excited and thought it was a good battle between me and Tommy.”
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In only his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, Evans will face Spain Pablo Carreno Bustawhich ended British qualifier Draper’s fine streak in the quarter-finals.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils had both fallen to Draper’s superiority in earlier rounds, and the 20-year-old superbly managed to avoid six break points in his first two service games.
Carreno Busta eventually found the breakthrough before Draper fought back to force a tie-break in the first set, which he led 3-1 before the Spaniard finally crossed the line.
The second set was a much simpler affair for Carreno Busta, who broke Draper twice more – despite the Briton posting seven aces – and negated another break point from the man 11 years his junior.
A long Draper backhand saw Carreno Busta advance to the last four thanks to a 7-6 [4] Success 6-1, and the other men’s semi-final will be contested by Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz.
Eighth seed, Hurkacz brought Nick KyrgiosThe winning streak ended in a three-set marathon battle, which ended 7-6 [4] 6-7 [5] 6-1 in favor of the Pole on center court, while Norwegian Ruud finished Felix Auger-Aliassimehopes for a Masters 1000 title in front of the home crowd, winning 6-1 6-2 on the night.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Coco Gauff could not stage an all-American battle with Jessica Pegula after going down in two sets for Simona Halepwhile Karolina Pliskova and Beatriz Haddad Maia will meet in the other semi-final.
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