Pablo Andujar, Albert Montanes qualify for the semi-finals of Grand Prix Hassan II
Pablo Andujar beats Pere Riba 6-2, 6-2
Spanish Pablo Andujar, ranked 69th in the world, cruised past his countryman, world number 84 Pere Riba in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to move to the semi-finals.
Andujar broke Riba in the third and seventh games of the opening set, winning it 6-2. The 25-year-old delivered 76 percent of the first serves, winning 89 percent of the points on them. While, Riba hit 48 percent of the first serves
and converted 67 percent of them into points. The Spaniard saved three of the five break points he faced in the opening set.
Riba drew the first blood in the second set as he broke Andujar in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. However, Andujar bounced back and won six straight six games, claiming the second set 6-2. The right-handed fired in three aces
and 84 percent of the first serves. The Spaniard won 75 percent of the first service points in the second set.
Andujar will play Albert Montanes in the semi-finals. This will be the third meeting between these two.
Albert Montanes defeats Fabio Fognini 7-6(1), 6-1
World number 24 Albert Montanes of Spain prevailed over world number 52 Fabio Fognini of Italy in straight sets 7-6(1), 6-1 in the quarterfinals at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca on Friday. The Spanish took one hour and
40 minutes to oust his opponent.
Fognini broke Montanes in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the opening set. However, the Spaniard was quick to respond as he broke back immediately to level the score at 3-3. Montanes and Fognini held their serve in the next
six games to take the set to a tie-break. The Spaniard was near flawless in the tie-break, losing just one point to win it 7-1.
Montanes was erratic with his serves as he hit three double faults and just 38 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The Spaniard failed to save the only break point he faced in the first set. The 30-year-old capitalized
on one of the two break point opportunities he received in the opening set.
After winning a tough first set, Montanes crushed Fognini in the second set as the Spanish allowed his opponent to win just a single game, clinching the set 6-1.
Montanes improved his serve, hitting a couple of aces and 53 per cent of the first serves in the second set. The Spaniard converted 75 percent of his first serves into points in the second set. The right-handed won both break points
he received in the second set.
The Spaniard is drawn to meet his compatriot Andujar in the semi-finals.
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