Rublev eases into St Petersburg semis

ST PETERSBURG: Russia’s Andrey Rublev edged closer to a place in the season-ending ATP Finals on Friday when he reached the last four in St Petersburg.

Third seed Rublev eased past Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-1 in just 63 minutes to move into the final automatic qualification spot for next month’s showpiece in London.

The 22-year-old Russian went ahead of Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the battle to clinch one of the two remaining singles spots at the finale.

On Saturday, Rublev will face Canada’s second seed Denis Shapovalov who put out Stan Wawrinka, the fourth-seeded Swiss, 6-4, 7-5.

Rublev is now 32-7 for the year with titles in Qatar, Adelaide and Hamburg.

The other semi-final sees Croatian seventh seed Borna Coric take on sixth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada.

Coric defeated Reilly Opelka, who had knocked out defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

Raonic saw off big-hitting Russian fourth seed Karen Khachanov 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).—AFP

Musetti reaches last four at Sardinia

SARDINIA: Italian 18-year-old Lorenzo Musetti reached the semi-finals of the Sardegna Open on Friday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Musetti is the youngest ATP tour semi-finalist since compatriot Jannik Sinner at last year’s European Open in Antwerp.

“It’s amazing. Last week, I was playing in Parma and losing to Frances (Tiafoe), a great player,” Musetti told atptour.com. “I was thinking of coming here and trying to go as far as I could, but I am living my best moments in Sardinia. I am playing my best tennis here.”

Musetti, who made the third round in Rome last month, will meet Serbia’s Laslo Djere for a place in the final. Djere beat Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.

Serbian lucky loser Danilo Petrovic, the world number 166, defeated Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.

Petrovic replaced top seed Fabio Fognini in the main draw after the Italian tested positive for coronavirus.

He will face wild card Marco Cecchinato in the other semi-final. Cecchinato, a 2018 Roland Garros semi-finalist, overcame Spanish fourth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.—AFP

Zverev, Agut labour to make semis

COLOGNE: Top-seeded Alexander Zverev advanced to the Cologne Indoors semi-finals by beating Lloyd Harris of South Africa 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 on Friday.

Zverev was leading 6-4, 1-0 but dropped two of his four service games as Harris forced the third set. He rebounded as Harris struggled with a leg injury and he closed out the match in 1 hour, 46 minutes.

The seventh-ranked Zverev next faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard defeated Dennis Novak 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Zverev is looking for his first title of the year and his third in his native Germany following victories at the clay-court Munich tournament in 2017 and 2018. It’s his first appearance in Germany since playing in Hamburg last year.

The second-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut will meet Canadas Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other semi-final.

Bautista Agut prevailed over two and half hours to beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-0, and Auger-Aliassime had fewer difficulties against Radu Albot, winning 6-3, 6-0.—AP

Corporate T20 first edition final today

KARACHI: Rangoonwala CC will take on SHS Schooling System in the final of Corporate Colour-kit Twenty20 league cricket tournament ‘s first edition at the Quaid-e-Azam Park Cricket Ground in the Pakistan Steel Township on Sunday.

According to chief organizer Atiq Ahmed, the title-decider will start at 1:00pm with senior Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) Sindh leader Dr Masroor Ali Siyal gracing the occasion later as the chief guest at the presentation ceremony.

The closing ceremony will also be attended by PTI general secretary of Bin Qasim Town Umair Shahid along with PTI president of Union Council 22 Nasir Ali Khan.

Former skipper of Pakisran Steel cricket team Ejaz Ahmed will lead Rangoonwala CC while Waqas Hashmi will captain SHS Schooling System.

The second of the tournament, meanwhile is still in progress, media manager Mohammad Nizam said on Saturday.—Sports Reporter

Final of NBP President’s Cup T20 today

KARACHI: The final of the 5th National Bank President’s Cup T20 Inter Group Cricket Tournament will be played here at the National Bank Sports Complex at 1:00pm on.Sunday between RBG Warriors and Logistics Lines.

President NBP Arif Usmani will be the chief guest at the final and will distribute prizes and trophies among the players. Head of NBP Sports Arshad Hussain and other dignitaries and guests will also witness the final.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2020