By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 10, 2017
Alexander Zverev denied a French final four, dispatching Jeremy Chardy, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in Montpellier.
Photo credit: @OpenSuddeFrance
Two days shy of his 30th birthday, Jeremy Chardy had French fans dreaming of an all-French final four today.
Alexander Zverev played party crasher.
More: Dominant Dimitrov Into Sofia Semifinals
The 19-year-old German dispatched Chardy, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to advance to his first ATP semifinal since Stockholm last October.
Striking with authority, Zverev smacked 13 aces and saved two of three break points in a 98-minute victory.
The fourth-seeded Zverev will faced second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in tomorrow’s blockbuster semifinal.
Tsonga powered past Daniil Medvedev, 6-2, 7-5, to reach the final four for the first time since 2010 when he fell to compatriot Gael Monfils.
Tsonga thumped seven aces, did not face a break point and won 26 of 27 first-serve points in an impressive display of attacking tennis that spanned just 67 minutes.
Benoit Paire earned quick entry into the final four.
The bearded Frenchman battled through a long opening service game to hold. Then worked on his soccer skills while opponent Dustin Brown left the court for back treatment.
That was the only game Paire played Brown was forced to retire with a back injury. It was a painful exit for Brown, who dazzled knocking top-seeded Marin Cilic out in a one-hour victory on Wednesday night.
Paire will play three-time champion Richard Gasquet for a spot in the final.
Gasquet conquered lefty qualifier Kenny De Schepper, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
It was Gasquet’s 10th consecutive victory in Montpellier.
The final quarterfinal popped with heavy hitting from Zverev and Chardy.
Chardy fired an ace to save the first break point of the match. The lanky Frenchman withstood the stress holding for 3-all.
Chardy flagged a mid-court forehand into the net to face set point. Angling a sharp inside-out forehand he drew the error to deny the set point only to miss the same shot for a second set point.
A jolting return from Zverev knocked Chardy on his heels. He netted a backhand reply as Zverev broke to take the opening set.
In the third game of the second set, Zverev thumped a pair of biting body serves to save two break points. On the third break point, Chardy took charge. Backing the German up, Chardy knocked off a high forehand volley earning his first break and a 2-1 second-set lead.
Chardy stayed the course to force a final set.
Fired-up after clashing with chair umpire Damien Dumusois over what he felt were missed line calls, Zverev channeled the frustration into action.
Exploiting a Chardy double fault, Zverev broke for a 2-0 lead in the third.
Continuing to charge forward when stretching Chardy, Zverev knocked off a high forehand volley eventually earning triple match point. Zverev closed the match and continued his exchange with the chair umpire.