Saturday 21 October 2017 10:38, UK
Grigor Dimitrov moved closer to qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals with a straight-sets victory over Mischa Zverev to reach the semi-finals of the Stockholm Open.
Dimitrov, the tournament's top seed, needed six match points to complete the 6-3 6-4 victory which maintains his challenge for a debut appearance at the season-ending championships in London next month.
The Bulgarian, who will next face Fabio Fognini, is currently sixth in the Race to London rankings with the top eight qualifying. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev have already claimed their spots.
"It's nice to get through that match in straight sets," Dimitrov said. "I knew it was not going to be easy but at the same time I thought I kept a very good intensity throughout."
Fognini overcame Jack Sock 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 while US Open finalist Anderson, another player with hopes of qualifying for London, suffered a 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-1) defeat against Fernando Verdasco.
The veteran Spaniard will meet in-form fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro after the Argentine dispatched Yuichi Sugita 6-2 7-6 (8-6).
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a shock victory over world No 10 David Goffin, with the in-form top seed also battling for a spot in London. The 19-year-old, who had never been in an ATP World Tour quarter-final, defeated Goffin, 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 33 minutes at the European Open in Antwerp.
"I felt really happy that I could play this way," said Tsitsipas, who secured his maiden victory over a top 10 player. "It's a very important victory for me today. [If I] keep my level at the level I was playing today, maybe even better and things will come. They come with time."
Tsitsipas will play the winner between fourth seed Diego Schwartzman and fifth seed David Ferrer.
In the other half of the draw, second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continued his pursuit of a fourth title this season by defeating compatriot Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Tsonga will next play Ruben Bemelmans, an opponent he has never faced before, after the final Belgian in the draw fought past Joao Sousa 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
Sky Sports will have all the action from the Erste Bank Open and Swiss Indoors Basel before the Paris Masters.
The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan and season-ending extravaganza World Tour Finals at London's O2 in November end another memorable year which will be covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs and updates as the season reaches its climax.
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