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By Andrew Jones | Saturday, February 17, 2018

 
Adrian Mannarino

Adrian Mannarino meets second-seeded Sam Querrey for a spot in the New York Open semifinals.

Photo credit: @British Tennis

It was a quarterfinals day of tight matches Friday at the New York Open. But despite the see-saw nature of all four contests, all the seeded players avoided upsets to reach the last four in Nassau Coliseum’s debut ATP tournament.

In the battle of the Adrians, crafty lefty Adrian Mannarino overcame relentless Spanish grinder Adrian Menendez-Maceiras in a two hour, 29 minute tussle to kick off the day.

Watch: Goffin Retires With Eye Injury, Dimitrov Into Rotterdam Final

The world No. 25 dropped ten aces and weathered the determined baseline play of his much unheralded opponent, who was in his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal of his career.

Mannarino is arguably now the best player on tour not to win an ATP World Tour title, and he is two matches away from getting off that dreaded list.

“I’m not really thinking about it right now,” the Frenchman said. “I’m just happy to be in the semifinals, and we’ll see tomorrow what’s going to happen.”

Mannarino will face off against Sam Querrey in the semifinals, as the southern Californian native overcame Ivo Karlovic in the battle of the big serves by predictably two tiebreaks, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

“I think going into that, a lot of people expected some tie breakers and that’s what we got," Querrey said. "It was two looks in the first set and two break points, good serves. I was really happy with how I played both tiebreakers and that was it.”

Querrey improved his record against Karlovic in their massive battle of serving to 5-1, and will hope he can record his first win against Mannarino, as the latter has proven too unpredictable to deal with in his three victories over the American in their meetings.

In the night session, Kei Nishikori was able to overcome a determined Radu Albot after dropping the open set to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. It was the best crowd atmosphere of the tournament thus far thanks to not only Nishikori's loyal fans but a surprising contingent of Moldavian supporters for Albot.

Nishikori was able to adjust to Albot's unexpected aggression to turn around the match in the middle set with much improved serving and more aggressive baseline play.

"It was a very tough start," Nishikori said. "I think he was playing good tennis, stepping up and hitting well, and I think I was doing too much defense in the first set, so he was attacking a little bit. During the second set, I think I was getting my rhythm back and started playing more inside the baseline, and everything started working well. The third set, I think I played some of the best tennis so far, so I was very happy to win today.”

The Japanese star will face off against Kevin Anderson in the evening semifinal.

The South African overcame his second difficult, multitalented American in a row, following up his come from behind win over Ernesto Escobero with a great victory over the explosive Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. After getting through two promising Yanks, Anderson knows he has a tough test on Saturday, as the South African is 1-5 in his career vs Nishikori.

“It’s going to be a close encounter tomorrow and I’m going to have to play good tennis," Nishikori said. "He’s one of the best movers and takes the ball really early. He’s a class player and is obviously coming back from an injury but he’s been playing quite a few matches the last few weeks, and I think that’s what you need to get back, and I’m sure he’s pretty healthy, and I’m looking forward to the next match.”

Andrew Jones is a Brooklyn-based tennis writer covering the New York Open for Tennis Now. Please follow Andrew on Twitter.


 

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