In a stunning display of tennis prowess, Daniil Medvedev ended Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Rotterdam title defence on Friday, securing a 5-0 record against the Canadian in the ATP Rotterdam Open quarterfinals. The world number 11 player clinched the match in straight sets, cementing his spot in the tournament’s semi-finals.
Medvedev was elated after his victory, calling it his “best match of the week” and saying, “I have to build on this.” The Russian athlete will now face Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated Alex de Minaur in a nail-biting quarterfinal match after saving two match points.
Daniil Medvedev defeats Auger-Aliassime in Rotterdam Open
Meanwhile, Italian player Jannik Sinner, the world number 14, continued his impressive form by defeating Switzerland’s three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3, to make it to the tournament’s last four. Sinner, who shocked top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Thursday, has extended his winning streak to seven matches, having also won the Montpellier title earlier in February.
Sinner revealed that he tries to play every match with “high intensity” and always seeks to “adapt” himself. He called his first-round match in Rotterdam “very important” and expressed his happiness at winning against Wawrinka, whom he referred to as a tough opponent.
Sinner’s next challenge will be Dutch wildcard entry Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated compatriot and world number 160 Gijs Brouwer 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
At the same time, top seed Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated his determination to win by shrugging off damp and cold conditions to reach the semifinals of the Argentina Open. The Spanish world number 2 player, who had been on a four-month injury layoff, clinched a straight-set victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
Despite the extreme weather conditions in Buenos Aires, Alcaraz seemed unfazed, saying that a tennis player’s day-to-day job is to “adapt to the conditions.” He will now face compatriot Bernabe Miralles in the last four.
In women’s singles, world number 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland secured a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 victory against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia in the Qatar Open semifinals. The 21-year-old player dominated her opponent in just 56 minutes, displaying her superiority on the court.
The tournament has witnessed some impressive performances so far, with Medvedev’s triumph over Auger-Aliassime being one of the highlights. Tennis enthusiasts around the world are looking forward to the remaining matches in the ATP Rotterdam Open, as players battle it out for a coveted spot in the finals.
