On a thrilling day of tennis action at the Almaty Open, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo delivered an outstanding performance, ending home favorite Alexander Shevchenko’s dream run in the tournament. Cerundolo, seeded fourth, defeated Shevchenko with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory to secure his spot in the semifinals of this ATP 250 event in Kazakhstan. The match marked Cerundolo’s sweet revenge over Shevchenko, who had beaten him just two weeks prior at the Shanghai Masters.
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This win not only keeps Cerundolo’s hopes alive for his fourth career ATP title but also solidifies his status as one of the rising stars on the ATP Tour. His impressive victory sets up a challenging semifinal clash against Gabriel Diallo, a young Canadian player who has been in fine form, defeating the second-seeded Alejandro Tabilo in a three-set thriller.
Cerundolo’s Revenge on Shevchenko
Coming into this quarterfinal, Francisco Cerundolo knew that the match against Alexander Shevchenko would be a tough one. The Argentine had just recently lost to Shevchenko in Shanghai in a close, tense match. However, Cerundolo showed immense focus and determination on Friday to avenge that defeat. He played a near-flawless match, dominating both his service games and returning Shevchenko’s serves with precision.
Cerundolo broke Shevchenko’s serve three times during the match, converting three of his six break points while saving the only break point he faced. His first serve was on fire, as he won 92% of points (24/26) behind it, which was instrumental in his quick 65-minute win. Reflecting on his victory, Cerundolo said, “I’m very happy. I knew it would be a really tough match. We played last week in Shanghai, and he beat me in a really tough match. I knew what I had to do today, and I think I did very well. I served well, and I’m very happy to be in the semifinals again, and for the first time this year on hard courts.”
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Cerundolo’s semifinal run at Almaty is particularly significant as it marks his first hard-court semifinal of the season. His previous successes this year came on clay, including winning his third ATP title at Umag in July. Now, with his confidence soaring, Cerundolo aims to continue his momentum into the next round, where he will face Gabriel Diallo for a place in the final.
The Rise of Gabriel Diallo
Gabriel Diallo has been one of the surprises of the Almaty Open, climbing 19 spots in the ATP Live Rankings thanks to his run in the tournament. The 23-year-old Canadian, who is currently ranked 99th, reached his first ATP Tour quarterfinal earlier in the week and continued his impressive form by defeating the second seed, Alejandro Tabilo, in three sets: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Diallo’s strong serve and powerful groundstrokes have made him a dangerous opponent throughout the tournament. His victory over Tabilo has set up an intriguing semifinal against Francisco Cerundolo, who admits that he has not seen much of Diallo’s game but expects a tough challenge ahead. “I haven’t seen much of [Diallo],” Cerundolo admitted. “We warmed up together today, but I haven’t watched many of his matches. I’ll check out some of his videos and learn how he plays. He’s big, serves really well, and hits hard. In these conditions, he will be very difficult to beat.”
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This will be the first meeting between Cerundolo and Diallo, and both players are determined to reach the final. Cerundolo’s experience and tactical prowess will be tested against Diallo’s youthful energy and powerful serve.
Vukic Stuns Top Seed Tiafoe
The top seed, Frances Tiafoe, was the biggest casualty of the day as he was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic. In a match filled with drama and tension, Vukic prevailed with a 6-2, 7-6(11) win, securing his place in the semifinals for the third time in his career at an ATP Tour event.
Vukic came out strong from the start, dominating Tiafoe in the first set and taking control early in the match. In the second set, both players engaged in a thrilling tiebreaker, where Vukic let four match points slip away, but he ultimately converted on his fifth match point to seal the victory. Tiafoe, who had two set points during the tiebreak, couldn’t capitalize and was eliminated after an intense 89-minute battle.
Vukic’s win was driven by his excellent serving performance, as he fired 13 aces and maintained consistency in crucial moments. According to Infosys ATP Stats, Vukic’s ability to stay calm under pressure played a key role in his success, especially during the tiebreaker. He will now face the third seed, Karen Khachanov, in the semifinals.
Khachanov Cruises to Semifinals
Karen Khachanov, the third seed at Almaty, continued his dominant run in the tournament with a straightforward victory over Kazakhstan’s own Beibit Zhukayev. Khachanov won 6-2, 6-4 in the last match of the day, securing his place in the semifinals without much trouble.
Khachanov, known for his powerful baseline game and consistency, will now meet Aleksandar Vukic in what promises to be an exciting semifinal clash. With Khachanov looking to add another title to his impressive career and Vukic riding high on confidence after defeating Tiafoe, the stage is set for a thrilling battle.
Semifinals Lineup at the Almaty Open
The Almaty Open semifinals feature two exciting matchups: Francisco Cerundolo versus Gabriel Diallo and Karen Khachanov against Aleksandar Vukic. Cerundolo is looking to extend his revenge tour after defeating Shevchenko, while Diallo seeks to continue his breakout run. On the other side, Khachanov is the favorite to advance, but Vukic has proven to be a formidable opponent.
With a strong mix of experienced players and rising stars, the Almaty Open semifinals promise to deliver high-quality tennis as the remaining competitors battle for the title and further their careers on the ATP Tour.
