By Tennis Now | Friday, October 5, 2018
Top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro powered past Filip Krajinovic and will face fourth-seeded Fabio Fognini with a trip to the Beijing final on the line.
Photo credit: China Open Facebook
Juan Martin del Potro will get another shot at Fabio Fognini with a trip to the Beijing final on the line.
The top-seeded del Potro powered past Filip Krajinovic, 6-3, 6-0, into his eighth final of the season at the China Open.
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Del Potro pounded 12 aces and won 25 of 29 first-serve points in a 61-minute thrashing to storm into his second straight semifinal.
"I think I played solid," del Potro said. "I took all my chances during the game. Today works everything good, starting from my serve, from my forehands, backhands. That is the game that I need to go far in this tournament."
The Indian Wells champion raised his 2018 record to 46-11, including a 35-7 mark on hard courts as he plays for his third title of the year. Despite revealing he was suffering from a fever, del Potro played what he called his "best match of the week."
The US Open finalist faces Fognini in a rematch of the Los Cabos final, which Fognini swept 6-4, 6-2, in August.
Continuing his quest for his fourth title of the season, Fognini dissected Marton Fucsovics, 6-4, 6-4.
It was Fognini's his 43rd match win of the year, which is the most wins he's registered in a single season. The 31-year-old Fognini, who improved to 43-19 on the season, beat his previous-best victory total of 42-27 in 2013.
The fourth-seeded Italian scored his sixth win in his last seven matches following his run to the Chengdu final last weekend.
"Of course, I think Juan is the favorite because his ranking is number four in the world," Fognini said."I'll just try to be focused on my game. It's really important for me. I'll try to do my best because at the moment I'm feeling really good on court."
"It’s going to be a difficult one," del Potro said of Fognini. "Fabio beat me in the Mexico finals this year. He’s a smart player. I have to play my best, for sure."
British No. 1 Kyle Edmund defeated Dusan Lajovic,6-3, 7-6 (4). Edmund denied both break points he faced in a 93-minute victory that sent him into his first semifinal since he was Marrakech runner-up in April.
Australian Open semifinalist Edmund will take on Nikoloz Basilashvili for a spot in the final.
Basilashvili beat Malek Jaziri, 6-2, 6-2, a day after Jaziri toppled second-seeded Alexander Zverev.
The world No. 34 converted four of eight break points in a 68-minute victory to reach his second semifinal of the year.
The 23-year-old Edmund has won both prior meetings vs. Basilashvili, including rallying from a two-sets to one deficit in a five-set conquest at the Australian Open in January.