Madrid Open: Clinical Jannik Sinner holds off ‘incredible’ Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar to reach semi-finals | Tennis News

World No 1 Jannik Sinner held off 19-year-old ‌wild card Rafael Jodar to win 6-2 7-6 (7-0) in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on ‌Wednesday, becoming the sixth player to reach the semi-finals of ​all nine ATP 1000 Masters tournaments.

Sinner saved five break points in the second set and ​won 11 points in a row ‌to secure victory over the Spaniard.

The 24-year-old produced a disciplined performance ⁠in the first set, breaking ⁠the local favourite twice to take a 5-2 lead, before sealing the set with ‌a fierce backhand.

Jodar, who won his first tour title in Morocco this month, threatened to pull 4-2 ahead ‌in the second set, but Sinner saved two break points to stay level at 3-3.

A double fault from the Italian put Jodar on the verge of another break, but ⁠Sinner saved three break points with a ​strong cross-court forehand and two backhand winners ​that brushed the sideline.

Sinner went 40-15 up ​in the next game but Jodar saved three break ⁠points before taking it.

Sinner, chasing his second clay court title this season after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters, dominated the ⁠tie-break and sealed victory with a ​forehand that Jodar could not reach.

Sinner’s opponent in ​the semi-finals will be Arthur Fils or Jiri Lehecka, who play later on Wednesday.

Sinner: Spain has another ‘incredible’ player in Jodar

Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis after his victory in Madrid, Sinner said:

“Look, he’s [Jodar] an incredible player, Spain has one more incredible player and it’s great for the sport.

“A tough challenge. I knew already before the match it’s going to be very tough to beat him, especially here.

“He’s from here, he knows exactly how to play in these conditions. At the same time, I got a little bit more experience in the second set, got a bit lucky at times, but I tried to keep the level as high as I could.

“I’m happy how I ended the match. I tried to level up a little bit, trying to go a little bit faster and this helped me.”

Lucky loser Potapova makes history with semi-final run

Anastasia Potapova turned tennis heartbreak into history by ‌becoming the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final with her thrilling 6-1 6-7 (7-4) ‌6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.

The Russian-born ​Austrian, who lost in qualifying last week, has capitalised on her unexpected main draw entry and stunned former ​world No 1 Pliskova in a roller-coaster clash ‌despite squandering three match points.

Potapova’s run has included impressive victories over former French Open ​champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No 2 Elena Rybakina.

Asked if she had thought she would be in the final four after her ​qualifying loss, the unseeded Potapova said: “No, I wouldn’t, for ⁠any money and anything. That’s what makes ⁠our sport beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I’m here.

“I’m super happy. There’s ‌nothing better that could happen to me in my life at the moment.”

Potapova trailed 3-1 in the deciding set, only to reel off five ⁠consecutive games and seal victory with her 10th ace ​before collapsing to her knees.

“I was given a ​few match points in the second set on serve. ​I couldn’t manage my nerves at the time, I know that,” ⁠Potapova said.

“But it seems like this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them.” Potapova will face Marta Kostyuk in ⁠the semi-finals after the Ukrainian beat Linda ​Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 6-0. Kostyuk defeated Potapova in the fourth round ​last year in Madrid, and is undefeated on clay this year.

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