Hurkacz and Dimitrov Advance to Marseille Semi-finals

Hubert Hurkacz's Impressive Quarter-final Win

Hubert Hurkacz continued his strong title defense at the Open 13 Provence with a dominant performance in the quarter-final. He defeated Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-4 in just 62 minutes. Hurkacz's powerful serve was a key factor in his victory, as he won 28 out of 31 points behind his first delivery. He showcased his clean ball striking and aggression from the baseline to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Hurkacz expressed his satisfaction with his performance, noting that his strong serving was a crucial factor in the match. Despite not having many chances on return games, he believes his overall game has been solid and he feels confident on the court. Hurkacz, currently ranked World No. 8, is the first player this year to achieve 10 tour-level wins.

Ugo Humbert Advances to Semi-finals

Ugo Humbert also had a smooth path to the semi-finals, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-4 in just one hour and nine minutes. Despite a lower percentage of first serves made, Humbert was incredibly dominant behind his first delivery, dropping only two points out of 26. He did not face a single break point throughout the match.

Humbert, a four-time tour-level titlist, is currently on a six-match winning streak at indoor hard-court tournaments. He previously won the 2023 season-ending Metz tournament. In the semi-finals, he will face Hurkacz, who holds a 3-0 lead in their head-to-head record, including a victory at the Australian Open.

Dimitrov and Khachanov Set to Clash in Semi-finals

In the bottom half of the draw, Grigor Dimitrov and Karen Khachanov secured their spots in the semi-finals with straight-set victories. Khachanov defeated Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-1 in just 61 minutes, while Dimitrov dispatched Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 7-6(6).

Dimitrov, the second seed and a nine-time tour-level title winner, expressed his satisfaction with his solid performance. He emphasized the importance of staying calm and navigating through the match smoothly. Dimitrov holds a 3-0 advantage in his head-to-head record against Khachanov, with two of their meetings taking place on indoor hard courts.

The Marseille semi-finals will feature the top four seeds, making it an exciting stage of the tournament for both players and fans alike.