By Kieran Jackson | Saturday, June 9, 2018
Top-seeded Jeremy Chardy outpowered Briton Dan Evans 6-4, 7-6 (4), to reach the Surbiton Challenger final vs. Alex de Minaur.
Photo credit: Brisbane International
Top-seeded Jeremy Chardy will play 19-year old Australian Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final at the Surbiton Challenger event, after the Frenchman outpowered Brit Dan Evans 6-4, 7-6 (4) in their semifinal today.
Chardy, following a mammoth final-set tiebreak win yesterday against Denis Kudla in the quarters, was in no mood to hang about today with his immense serve, backed up by his domineering inside-out forehand, too much for the fatigued Evans.
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One break of serve was enough to take the first-set, and the world No. 86 was more consistent when it mattered in the second.
“It was a really close match,” said the 31-year-old Frenchman. “I took my opportunity in the first set, and I played a really good tiebreak in the second set. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here, but I started the week great, moving well, and I’ve continued. It feels good to be in the final.”
On the other hand, despite a confidence-building week in which he has won six matches in a row on the grass having come through qualifying (in only his third tournament back after his year-long ban for taking cocaine), Evans was disappointed with his semifinal performance.
“I played awful in that match," Evans said. "I should really win that match, it’s a poor loss. My level wasn’t really there today, and I felt pretty flat. I felt a bit mentally fatigued, but yeah it was just a poor end to the week.”
Chardy will play Alex de Minaur in tomorrow’s final, as the talented youngster was victorious against Matthew Ebden 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday’s all-Aussie semifinal.
De Minaur, who reached the Top 100 in the world rankings with his quarterfinal victory against Yuki Bhambri yesterday, admitted post-match that he was delighted with his form on the grass this week
“I’ve felt like I’ve been serving really well this week”, said the 19-year old Aussie when asked what part of his game he was most pleased with. “It’s a part of my game I’ve tried to improve throughout the year so I’m very proud about that, and being able to maintain my focus throughout the whole match, not having any lapses in concentration or letting the opponent getting back into the match.”
In the women’s draw, American second seed Alison Riske continued her fine run in south-west London, beating Australian Priscilla Hon 7-5, 6-3.
The world number 83, who is yet to drop a set this week, is the obvious favorite in tomorrow’s final on a surface she admits is her favorite, given her flat groundstroke game.
“The grass-court season is my favorite time of the year,"Riske said. "I always look forward to it. Wimbledon is definitely my favourite tournament and I just wish the grass-court season was a little bit longer!”
Riske will play Switzerland’s Conny Perrin in the final, after the world No. 193 overcame Briton Harriet Dart in a thrilling opening match of the day.
Dart, ranked just ten places below Perrin, had three match points in the deciding set, serving for the match twice.
However, Perrin’s tour-level experience against her 21-year old opponent proved decisive in the crucial moments, with her defensive resilience outlasting Hart’s aggressive groundstrokes.
After two hours and six minutes of pulsating action, Perrin came through 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), and was understandably thrilled to come through such a tight match.
“I knew it would be really tough today. I kept fighting, and I’m really happy I got through that today," she said. "I just tried to keep the ball in the court as much as possible, because she had the pressure [when match points up], and it’s never easy to finish it.”
The 27-year old, playing in their first ITF $100,000 final tomorrow, admitted also that it was one of the most pleasing weeks of her career.
“It’s one of my best weeks so far. Especially on grass, which I’ve played on for a few years, I’m very happy to see that the work is paying off with my new coach.”
Finals day tomorrow sees two fascinating match-ups worthy of tour-level competition at Surbiton, to culminate what has been a fantastic week’s action to start the grass-court season.
Freelance sports journalist Kieran Jackson is covering the grass-court season ahead of Wimbledon for Tennis Now. For more of Kieran's tennis coverage, follow him on Twitter.