Kyrgios reaches first ATP semi-final

Nick Kyrgios

Australian seventh seed Nick Kyrgios has won through to the final four on Friday.

Kyrgios reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final having progressed 6-3 6-4 against Robin Haase - serving seven aces in a contest that lasted just 56 minutes.

"For me, this is an opportunity to play more matches, more tennis, and I was ready for the quarter-finals," said Kyrgios.

"Today I played really good with my serve and return. [The clay] is slower, so I had more time on his serve. I think this is a good opportunity for me to play this match and continue to the semi-finals."

Next up for Kyrgios is Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament after eliminating eighth seed Gilles Muller 6-2 6-4.

Muller was taken to three sets in his last-16 victory over Albert Montanes and he appeared lacklustre as Carreno-Busta gained revenge for his defeat at this year's Australian Open.

Meanwhile, French fifth seed Richard Gasquet continued his impressive comeback from injury with a straight-sets win over Nicolas Almagro at the Estoril Open.

Gasquet - featuring in his first tournament since Indian Wells after overcoming a back problem - saved four of five break-point opportunities faced to chalk up a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) quarter-final victory at the ATP 250 clay-court event.

The 28-year-old had lost his past three matches against Spain's Almagro but that all changed in Portugal.

Borna Coric's campaign came to an end at the hands of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the world number 31 claiming their first career meeting 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

Garcia-Lopez was required to produce an impressive second-set comeback after falling 5-1 behind against the 18-year-old Croatian.

However, Garcia-Lopez reeled off six of the final seven games before winning the tie-break to move into the semis, where he will face Gasquet.

 

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