Doha: France’s Arthur Rinderknech stunned top-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in their 2022 Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarterfinal while defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili, Roberto Bautista Agut and Karen Khachanov all made it to the semi finals in Doha.
On Thursday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Frenchman Rinderknech whose career graph has witnessed an upward arc in 2022 gave enough hints of why he is a player to watch out for this season.
The World No. 61 Rinderknech won 16 of 20 second-serve points to storm into his second semifinal in three tournaments this season, including his first ATP Tour final in Adelaide in January, where he fell to Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The 80-minute victory is Rinderknech’s third career top 20 win. The Canadian is the second seed to fall to Rinderknech in Doha after the Frenchman defeated seventh seed Alexander Bublik in the second round.
In Doha, Wimbledon semi finalist Shapovalov was seeking his first semifinal since the 2021 Stockholm where he was also top seed and stopped Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.
In Qatar, Rinderknech was the calmer and more consistent player. Shapovalov sabotaged his own cause, committing nine double faults and dropping serve to start the second set on his way to another upset loss.
The 26-year-old Frenchman appears on course to charge into the top 20 on the ATP ranking computer going by his topnotch performance this season.
“It feels pretty good, especially when it’s your best win of your career. I’m not going to complain and enjoy it tonight,” said the Frenchman.
“I’m just trying to take one match at a time. I’m coming back from a few injuries that I got in Australia, so I’m just enjoying my time on court. Happy to be healthy,” he added.
Rinderknech will go on to face defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili who fought back from a set down to defeat Márton Fucsovics 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Doha has been a happy hunting ground for Basilashvili. Last year, the Georgian arrived at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open mired in a five-match losing streak and went on to defeat Roger Federer, Taylor Fritz and Roberto Bautista Agut to take the title.
This week, Basilashvili was stuck in an eight-match losing streak before beating Elias Ymer and Fucsovics to reach his first semi final since he was runner-up to Cameron Norrie in Indian Wells.
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up and 2019 winner Bautista Agut, who trounced Andy Murray 6-0, 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals, continued in the same vein to defeat compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 and will take on Karen Khachanov in the last four clash.
The Russian defeated wild card entrant Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee
