A runner-up in 2019 after failing to convert two match points against Alexander Zverev, Nicolas Jarry (ATP 54) has gatecrashed the semi-finals at the Gonet Geneva Open. The Chilean defeated two-time defending champion Casper Ruud 3-6 7-6 (2) 7-5 to set up a rematch against Zverev on Friday.
Unbeaten in nine matches on the Eaux-Vives clay, Ruud can have no regrets about his winning run coming to an abrupt end. His misfortune was to come up against an opponent who did not put a foot wrong, an opponent capable of making a last-gasp adjustment to pull off a breathtaking passing shot down the line and prevent the Norwegian taking a 6-5 lead in the second set. Ruud unravelled after that little piece of magic from the Chilean.
The first match on court on Friday is the other semi-final, with No.2 seed Taylor Fritz taking on No.4 Grigor Dimitrov. Fritz cruised past Belarusian Ilya Ivashka (ATP 86) 6-1 6-2, while the Bulgarian came from nowhere to beat Australia’s Christopher O’Connell (ATP 85). The former world No.3 trailed a set and 4-1 before pulling off the finest remontada of the week to win 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4.