By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 23, 2022
Roberto Bautista Agut broke three times surprising world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 to reach his second semifinal of the season in Mallorca.
Photo credit: Getty
Delivering precise shotmaking, Roberto Bautista Agut dislodged chalk from the lines and dismissed defending champion Daniil Medvedev from the Mallorca draw.
An exacting Bautista Agut broke serve three times bouncing world No. 1 Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 to reach his second semifinal of the season at the Mallorca Championships.
McEnroe: Coaching Issue is BS Anyway
The 34-year-old Spaniard thrilled home fans scoring his fourth career victory over a reigning world No. 1—Bautista Agut's prior three wins over a world No. 1 came against Novak Djokovic.
Carrying a 5-0 career Mallorca record into today's quarterfinals, Medvedev lacked the energy and urgency he typically shows on court.
The US Open champion won only 14 of 25 first-serve points and did not break in the one-hour, 11-minute quarterfinal in what is likely his last grass-court match of the year. Medvedev and all Russians and Belarusians are banned from next week's Wimbledon in condemnation of Russia's unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Former world No. 9 Bautista Agut beat Medvedev for the fourth time in five meetings avenging a straight-sets Halle quarterfinal loss earlier this month.
Three years ago, Bautista Agut contested his maiden major semifinal at Wimbledon. Tomorrow, Bautista Agut will play for his first final since Doha last February when he faces either Swiss qualifier Antoine Bellier or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas pumped 13 aces and saved five of eight break points fending off American Marcos Giron 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3. Tsitsipas improved to an ATP-best 38-13 in 2022 as he plays for his first title since successfully defending Monte-Carlo in April.
Tsitsipas will play Benjamin Bonzi for a final spot. The 56th-ranked Bonzi beat Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4.