Stan Wawrinka pushed his win streak at the Aircel Chennai Open to eleven matches over the past three years. The top seeded Swiss will battle Benoit Paire in the semifinals on Saturday.
Friends Wawrinka and Paire to Clash in Semifinals
Stan Wawrinka is into the semifinals at the Aircel Chennai Open after beating 5th seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets. Wawrinka used a stout serve and aggressive ground strokes to tally his 21st win in Chennai in 25 career matches. Wawrinka was on the Spaniard's serve early and often as he saw six break chances in Garcia-Lopez's first two service games. He finally secured the break on the sixth try to go up 2-1 in the opening set. The top seed would wobble in the 8th game as he allowed the fifth seeded Spaniard back into the set with a break to even the score at 4-4. Wawrinka would break back immediately though and close the set out at 6-4.
The second set would remain knotted until the seventh game when the Swiss scored the only break of the set to lead 4-3. Wawrinka would pound his first serve in to help him finish off the match as he won 17 of 20 first serve points in the set and finished with 14 aces in all. The Swiss has now won his last 20 sets in Chennai and told reporters following the match that the conditions in Chennai are a great challenge, "I like the tournament and the conditions here... it is hot and humid and challenging, physically and mentally. I won playing tough tennis the last two years and I hope to keep it going.”
Wawrinka will see a familiar face across the net on Saturday in the semifinals after his good friend, third seeded Benoit Paire, also advanced on Friday. Paire played qualifier Thomas Fabbiano. The Frenchman matched Wawrinka's 14 ace total in his 6-4, 7-5 win. He was far from convincing though as he was broken on serve four times in the match and had trouble landing his first serve. Getting just 44 percent of his first serves in play, Paire let the Italian qualifier work on his weaker second serve as Fabbiano won 30 of 49 points. That kept him in the match, but the qualifier's own serve was worse. Fabbiano would be broken six times in the match. The second set featuring some sloppy play from both men as they traded breaks of serve in five straight games at one point. Fabbiano actually had a chance to serve out the set at 5-4, but was broken as Paire won the final three games to take the match. Wawrinka and Paire will meet for the 6th time in their careers with the Swiss leading 5-1.
Bedene One Step From Back-to-Back Finals Appearances
Unseeded Aljaz Bedene shook off stubborn local Ramukar Ramanathan Friday in the quarterfinals as he took one step closer to making his second straight final in Chennai. Bedene bounced back after losing the opening set tiebreak to edge Ramanathan 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. The first set was every bit as close as the score indicated as only one break chance was seen with Bedene making the save in the second game. For the set, Bedene scored just three more points than his Indian counterpart, 42-39.
The second set saw Bedene go a perfect 13 for 13 on first serves as he won 21 of 25 service points in the set. He would convert the only break of the set in the 10th game. The final set got away from Ramanathan early as he was broken in the second game. He would fight hard as he held off four match points, but missed a stretched backhand attempt to give Bedene the gritty win.
Coric Scores Clutch Comeback Effort
In another battle of seeded players, fourth seed Roberto Bautista-Agut and 8th seed Borna Coric put on a dramatic finish to the singles slate on Friday. Coming into the match, Bautista-Agut had won both previous encounters against the Croatian teen in 2015. The first set looked as if that trend would continue with the Spaniard putting pressure on Coric's serve. Coric would falter on the second break point he offered as Bautista-Agut jetted out to a 4-1 lead after consolidating the break. The fourth seed would close the set with minimal problems, 6-3. The second set saw much improved serving from Coric as he matched Bautista-Agut serve for serve to a 5-4 lead. The 10th game would see Coric crack the Spaniard on the second break point to even the match at a set each with the second set score line at 6-4. The Croatian won 21 of 27 service points in the set.
The third set would turn dramatic after Coric broke Bautista-Agut in the fourth game for a 3-1 advantage. After a trade of holds to 4-2, the Croatian struggled on serve as Bautista-Agut crafted three break points. He would convert on the third to get back on serve and then tie things up at 4-4 after holding serve. The outcome looked bleak for Coric after the next game as he lost his composure on serve again and gave the Spanish fourth seed a chance to serve for the match. Bautista-Agut buckled and the match continued at 5-5. Coric nearly won the match in the 12th game as he took Bautista-Agut to match point, but the Spaniard fought through to hold serve and send the match to a decisive tiebreak. After losing the opening service point, Coric would reel off the final seven to take the breaker 7-1 and advance to his first ATP semifinal since Dubai last spring 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Saturday's Schedule
Action in Chennai starts on Stadium Court with top seed Stan Wawrinka taking on third seed Benoit Paire on Saturday. That match will be followed by Bedene - Coric. Wins by Wawrinka and Bedene would mean a repeat of last year's Chennai final on Sunday. Following the two singles matches, Indian fans will be delighted to see Indian players Somdev Devvarman and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan battle for a spot in the men's doubles final against Benoit Paire and Austin Krajicek.