STOCKHOLM, October 22, 2016

Saturday’s singles semi-final matches featured three of the top six seeds and one wild card, setting up an interesting final four between Juan Martin del Potro and Jack Sock at the If Stockholm Open.

Del Potro fought past second seed and 2013 champion Grigor Dimitrov, winning 6-4, 7-5 in the opening match on Center Court. The 28-year-old from Argentina sent down six aces and won 80 per cent of his first service points to stretch his lead to 4-0 over the Bulgarian after one hour and 42 minutes.

Later the day, Sock upset the tournament’s number four Alexander Zverev, rallying 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in their first career meeting. The 24-year-old US-American saved 10 of the 12 break points he faced, converting three of his own to seal victory in two hours and 48 minutes. Sock returns to the Stockholm final after he finished runner-up to Tomas Berdych last year.

“We both had chances obviously at times,” Sock said. “It was a very good match, very good tennis. We both were battling out there.”

Sock will take on Del Potro for the second time. He emerged victorious from the only previous meeting at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid earlier this season.

Mikael and Elias Ymer

“He’s been playing great this week… He’s serving well and hitting big forehands,” Sock said. “So I’m definitely going to have to try to get into his service games as best as I can, scrap some points out and then take care of my serve.”

Swedish youngsters Elias and Mikael Ymer defeated Rohan Bopanna and Treat Huey 6-3, 6-4 in 65 minutes to compete in the doubles final. The brothers will take on fourth seeds Mate Pavic of Croatia and Michael Venus from New Zealand.