Sela, Medvedev move into semi-finals

On the outer court, Danill Medvedev beat Marin Cilic slayer Jozef Kovalik 6-1, 6-4 to move into the semi-finals and end the qualifier’s dream run. Medvedev was on the top of his game firing in eight aces and winning 87% of his first serve points. His returns were on the mark as he toppled Kovalik with terrific returns for the qualifier had no chance to return. 

At the centre court, it took an hour for Sela to topple Vinolas in the first set that saw fortunes fluctuate in the later part of the set. Sela took the upper hand immediately when he broke Vinolas’ first service game with the Spaniard looking rusty and committing a host of unforced errors. The Spaniard almost came back when he had a break point in the second but Sela served a beauty and Vinolas offered an easy smashing chance to Sela which the Israeli accepted with glee. 

The major part of the next seven games passed without any instance of a surprise but both players played some delicate drop shots, forehand winners with perfect timing and placement that kept the crowd engaged. Sela, serving for the set in the 10th game, lost his concentration a bit as Vinolas displayed excellent attacking skills to save four set points to break Sela and draw level at 5-5. A double fault by Sela on his fourth set point gave Vinloas the motivation as he upped the ante to pocket the game.

The third-seed then lost his serve for the second time in the next game as Sela nudged ahead with a neat forehand drive down the line. Serving for the set a second time, it looked like the World No. 96 would falter again at 0-30 but a determined Sela dished out a couple of good forehand winners to draw level and won the set in his fifth set point opportunity. 

The Israeli was clearly on top firing five aces as against the Spaniard’s one and converted two break point opportunities as opposed to one. Sela came right back in the third game of the second set and displayed patches of brilliance when he created a tough angle for Vinolas to take the drop shot and unleashed a half-volley on the return to take a break point. After breaking serve, the Israeli did the basics right and fired winners from the baseline without much ado to stay ahead of the Spaniard. 

Things became increasingly difficult for Vinolas as he wasn’t able to find his feet and committed to unforced errors repeatedly to dent his chances of a come-back. A forehand shot down the line out of the court gave Sela the match in the 10th game of the second set.