(Update with last match)
MEXICO CITY, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Russian Daniil Medvedev, number two in the world, advanced to the semifinals of the Mexican Tennis Open on Thursday after quickly beating Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-3 in a hour and 10 minutes.
Medvedev will become world number one next Monday after Serbian Novak Djokovic lost to Czech Jiri Vesely 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the Dubai tournament.
“I had to control my emotions knowing that I am going to be the next world number. It was not an easy match, but I was able to get through it keeping my composure,” Medvedev said after the match.
The 26-year-old easily won the first set where he hit seven aces and broke Nishioka’s serve three times.
For the second set, the Japanese number 103 in the world put Medvedev in trouble and had him down 3-1, but the Russian tennis player recovered and broke Nishioka’s serve twice and with two ace serves he won the five consecutive games. to stay with the victory and settle in the prelude to the final.
In the semifinal, Medvedev will face Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who beat American Tommy Paul 6-0, 7-6 (5).
“There were times when the match got a little crazy, but fortunately I won it. They are always very difficult matches, Medvedev is the future number one in the world and he is one of the most difficult rivals you can find,” Nadal said after the match. match.
In the other matches of the quarterfinals, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas beat the American Marcos Giron 6-3 and 6-4, and in the semifinal he will face the British Cameron Norrie, who won 6-1 and 6-0 against the German Peter Gojowczyk. (Report by Carlos Calvo Pacheco)
