A COUPLE of huge shocks headline the semi-finals across the world, as one French star zeroes in on this third title at the Open Sud De France.

OPEN SUD DE FRANCE – MONTPELLIER, FRANCE:

Gael Monfils is closing in on a third title at Montpellier after booking a spot in the final yesterday. The top 10 Frenchman defeated seventh seed Serbian Filip Krajinovic in straight sets, 7-6 6-2 to face Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the final. It was a shock result for the 29-year-old world number 132, who won through to meet Monfils in the final match with an upset triumph over top 10 Belgian, David Goffin. Pospisil has already moved up to 104th in the world and will be inside the top 100 if he can find a way to continue his terrific tournament with a win over Monfils. Pospisil defeated Goffin 6-3 1-6 7-5 in two hours and 21 minutes, serving eight aces, winning 72 per cent of his first serve points and breaking three times. Goffin arguably had better statistics with a 78 per cent success rate off his first serve, and also broke three times, but it was his second serve that let him down. The Canadian won 60 per cent of Goffin’s second serve points and took advantage of his slower serve. Only a point separated the players by the end of the match, but it was a handy point with the North American now trying to take down the tournament favourite. Monfils will move up to equal eighth with Matteo Berrettini if the Frenchman gets up.

SF Results:

[1] Gael Monfils (FRA) defeated [7] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 7-6 6-2
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) defeated [2] David Goffin (BEL) 6-3 1-6 7-5

TATA OPEN – PUNE, INDIA:

Pospisil was not the only surprise winner in the semi-finals stage of ATP Tour tournaments yesterday, as Czech Jiri Vesely downed second seed, Ricardas Berankis in three tight tiebreakers. Vesely dropped the first tiebreaker but came back to win 6-7 7-6 7-6, eventually saluting 9-7 in the deciding set tiebreaker. The match lasted more than three hours and Vesely’s serve was unbelievable – putting down 28 aces and winning 86 per cent of his first serve points. He served at a healthy 65 per cent efficiency, while breaking three times – the same amount as his Lithuanian opponent. Vesely was able to do well off Berankis’ first serve, winning a third of the points, while Berankis only won a lowly 14 per cent. On the second serve however, Berankis took more control with a 56 to 45 per cent success rate comparison. Vesely now takes on eighth seed Belarusian, Egor Gerasimov who defeated Australian James Duckworth in the other semi-final, 7-6 6-4. Whichever player wins it will be a memorable occasion, with Gerasimov vying for his first ever ATP Tour title, while Vesely will look for his first title in five years – and only his second overall. Currently at 71 in the world having moved up 19 spots, Gerasimov will move to 61st overall with a win in the final, wile Vesely – ranked at 107th entering the tournament – is up to 88th already, with the chance to move one behind Gerasimov with a title win, into 72nd on the ATP Tour rankings.

SF Results:

[8] Egor Gerasimov (BLR) defeated James Duckworth (AUS) 7-6 6-4
Jiri Vesely (CZE) defeated [2] Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-7 7-6 7-6

CORDOBA OPEN – CORDOBA, ARGENTINA:

After a number of years hovering just outside the top 30, Chilean 23-year-old Cristian Garin has moved inside the top 30 to a career-high 27th in the world. Garin did it off the back of a 2-6 6-2 6-2 come-from-behind victory in the semi-final against Slovenia’s Andrej Martin. The world number 100 slotted into number 93 after his semi-final appearance, but he was not able to sustain his first set effort against the third seed in the last two sets. It took Garin almost two hours to get the win, getting up 2-6 6-2 6-2 with four breaks to two, and serving at a 65 per cent efficiency rate. He won 69 per cent of his first serves and capitalised on his opponents’ second serve with a 53 per cent success rate. The Chilean now faces his biggest challenge in the tournament yet, facing Argentinian and top seed, Diego Schwartzman.

SF Results:

[1] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) defeated [4] Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-1 1-6 6-2
[3] Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated Andrej Marting (SLO) 2-6 6-2 6-2