Aleksandar Vukic will contest a 3rd ATP-level semifinal after a dramatic victory over high seed Frances Tiafoe in Almaty.
Almaty, Kazakhstan, 19 October 2024 | Vivienne Christie
Aleksandar Vukic will contest a 3rd ATP-level semifinal, and a second this season, after outlasting high seed Frances Tiafoe in an exhilarating quarterfinal on the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan.
The Australian triumphed 6-2 7-6(9) after saving set factors in a dramatic second-set tiebreak. He secured victory on his fifth match level after one hour and 29 minutes on the hard-court event.
“(I’m) fairly overwhelmed, that tiebreak was fairly loopy,” stated Vukic following a primary main-draw assembly with the world No.15 American.
“We had been each a little bit bit nervous and the group was actually moving into it, the environment was nice.
“I suppose that is what it’s all about, you don’t really feel feelings like this wherever else. Completely happy to get by way of and go once more tomorrow.”
BIG W ✨
Vukic battles his well beyond Tiafoe 6-2 7-6(11) to achieve his third ATP Tour SF!@ktf_kz | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/VmH7CGp8Vh
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 18, 2024
It follows a formidable late-season run for Vukic, who surprised world No.9 Casper Ruud within the second spherical on the latest Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Victory over Tiafoe was his third towards a top-20 opponent, with Vukic additionally a winner over world No.15 Borna Coric on the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto final yr.
Vukic will meet world No.26 Karen Khachanov as he vies to progress to the second ATP last of his profession, with the 28-year-old Australian a runner-up at Atlanta final yr.
He brings a 1-1 head-to-head document into the high-stakes assembly with Khachanov, with Vukic the winner of the pair’s final match on the grass courts of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June.
Already, there’s additionally a helpful rating enhance after the Sydneysider’s spectacular efficiency.
Within the ATP reside rankings, Vukic has climbed from No.85 to world No.72 – and that quantity will rise once more ought to he overcome Karen Khachanov within the semifinals.
Vukic deliberate to arrange for that event with a calming hit of golf at a driving vary simply close to his lodge within the Kazakhstani metropolis.
“(I) would possibly go to the driving vary subsequent door to our lodge, unleash some balls to get some emotion out of me,” he smiled. .
