Foki Seals SF Berth In Toronto

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina advanced to his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final on Friday at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, where he dispatched Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-2 in Toronto.

The Spaniard earned his fifth Top 10 win, and first on hard courts, against Casper Ruud in the previous round and backed that up with an aggressive returning performance against McDonald. Davidovich Fokina won 68 per cent (19/28) of points on McDonald’s second serve, while he struck 22 winners, letting out a roar after sealing victory on his second match point.

“To beat the top players is giving me a lot of confidence,” Davidovich Fokina said. “I just want to step on court and play my best and enjoy every moment and every point. To get that battle that I want. He was playing amazing at the beginning and then made a few mistakes and I believed more in myself. It gave me a lot of power.

“The good routines and habits are [important]. “All the habits are off court the court. Obviously a lot of things on court, but lots off court.”

With his one-hour, 35-minute win, Davidovich Fokina reached his first semi-final of the season in his sixth quarter-final attempt. Up 14 spots to No. 23 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, he will meet second seed Daniil Medvedev or Australian Alex de Minaur on Saturday. Davidovich Fokina reached a previous career-high No. 24 in April this year.

The 24-year-old, who advanced to the championship match at the Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo last year, is aiming to capture his maiden tour-level title in Toronto.

McDonald defeated World No. 7 Andrey Rublev en route to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final. The American enjoyed a strong start in his second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Davidovich Fokina, breaking in the second game of the match. However, he was unable to deal with the Spaniard’s power as the match went on, with Davidovich Fokina pouncing on short balls to reach his fifth tour-level semi-final.