UpdatedMay 13, 2022, 11:48 p.m.
The world No. 1 fought 2 hours 9 minutes once morest the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime. The other half will see Zverev and Tsitsipás face off. Swiatek – Sabalenka clash in the ladies.
Novak Djokovic, big favorite of the Masters 1000 in Rome following the elimination Thursday of defending champion Rafael Nadal, qualified for the semi-finals on Friday by winning a very high level duel once morest the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP 9 ) 7-5 7-6 (7/1).
This victory in pain ensures the Serb to retain his place of world No. 1 on Monday, which would have been recovered by Daniil Medvedev in the event of defeat before the semi-finals.
This is his 999th victory on the circuit. If successful once more on Saturday, he will become the fifth to enter the club of players with 1,000 or more victories (along with Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Rafael Nadal).
The Serb, already five times titled on Roman clay, will meet in half the Norwegian Casper Ruud (ATP 10), who beat the Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (9/7) 7-5, as during his last coronation on the Foro Italico, in 2020.
Encore a match Zverev – Tsitsipás
During the day, Zverev, winner on Roman clay in 2017, was not really put in difficulty by the Chilean Cristian Garin (45th in the world), racing from the seventh game of the first set, to win. in two sets 7-5 6-2 in 1 hour 51.
The German, finalist in Madrid last Sunday, will meet Stéfanos Tsitsipás in the semi-final. The Greek, 5th in the world, dominated the Italian Jannik Sinner (ATP 13) 7-6 (7/5) 6-2, to afford a third semi-final in less than a month once morest Zverev.
Swiatek towards a 5th final?
In the women’s draw, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, seeded No. 3, clinched her place in the semi-finals by dominating in three sets (4-6 6-3 6-2) the American Amanda Anisimova (WTA 32), who had just beaten her in Madrid. It is the first time that Sabalenka has taken over this opponent who had won their four previous confrontations.
Sabalenka will meet world No 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. The Pole who is striding towards a fifth final in five tournaments following having dominated (7-6 (7/2) 6-0) the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (90th) on Friday.
(AFP)