• Sydney International

Del Potro into semi-finals, Ferrer scrapes through

ESPN staff
January 9, 2014
Juan Martin del Potro was once again taken to three sets © Getty Images
Enlarge

Juan Martin del Potro came through another encounter at the Sydney International in three sets, beating Radek Stepanek 6-4 3-6 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.

Hutchins back in business

Hutchins will ditch the suit of Queen's Club for the real action at the Australian Open © Getty Images
  • Tom Pilcher chats to British tennis star Ross Hutchins on beating cancer, returning to doubles action and best friend Andy Murray.
  • Click here to read the full story

On Wednesday, Del Potro kicked off his 2014 campaign with a final set win over Nicolas Mahut, and once again he was taken all the way by his opponent. However, Stepanek, the back-to-back Davis Cup winner with the Czech Republic, lost out 6-3 in that decisive set.

"I was positive for every moment of the match. Even when [Stepanek] improved his game during the second set, I was positive and waited for my chances," Del Potro said.

The 2009 US Open champion will now take on Dmitry Tursunov in the semi-finals of the event after the Russian overcame Denis Istomin 7-6(5) 6-2.

Defending champion Bernard Tomic beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4 6-3, and the Australian is set to take on Sergiy Stakhovsky in the last four after he defeated Marinko Matosevic 6-4, 6-3.

At the Heineken Open in Auckland, four-time champion David Ferrer beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 5-7 6-4, with third seed John Isner edging past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(5).

On the WTA circuit, Tsvetana Pironkova advanced to her maiden final by upsetting former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-3, and in that final she will face Angelique Kerber, who was a 6-4 6-2 victor over Madison Keys.

Tsvetana Pironkova celebrates her victory © Getty Images
Enlarge
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices