American teen Nishesh Basavareddy defeated countryman and No. 8 seed Alex Michelsen 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
At 19, Basavareddy became the youngest U.S. male to reach a tour-level semifinal on a hard court since Reilly Opelka did so at 18 in Atlanta in 2016. He saved five of seven break points in the 1-hour, 42-minute victory to set up a clash with unseeded Frenchman Gael Monfils.
The other semifinal pits No. 7 seed Nuno Borges of Portugal against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs. Borges outlasted 19-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (4) and Bergs rallied for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
Adelaide International
Top-seeded Tommy Paul took down home favorite Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-4 in 79 minutes to advance to the semifinals in Australia.
Paul fired eight aces and saved all four break points. Up next is No. 5 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who hammered 11 aces in a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory against Marcos Giron.
No. 2 seed Sebastian Korda moved into the semifinals with a walkover win against Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, who withdrew with a right shoulder injury on the eve of the Australian Open. Korda will face Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia after his 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in 64 minutes.
–Field Level Media
