ORTISEI, November 11, 2016

Three Italians will appear in the semi-finals of the €64,000 ATP Challenger Val Gardena, as Alessandro Giannessi beat Salvatore Caruso 6-1, 7-6 to meet Lorenzo Sonego next. The latter outlasted fellow Italian and Ortisei’s seventh seed Federico Gaio, winning 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 after two hours and 48 minutes.

Stefano Napolitano knocked out the tournament’s number four Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, winning 6-4, 6-4. The 21-year-old Biella native sent down nine aces and saved both of the break points he faced, converting two of his own to advance in one hour and 24 minutes.

“This was an important match to me,” told Napolitano. “With this win, I will crack the Top 200 in the rankings but tomorrow will be another tough match.”

Kevin Krawietz (photo: Marco Wanker)

Napolitano will next play in-form-German Kevin Krawietz. The world number 349 from Coburg cruised past Slovenian Blaz Kavcic, winning 6-0, 6-4 in 65 minutes. Krawietz has made it to his second semi-final within two weeks, after he had reached the stage of the final four at the ATP Challenger in Eckental last week.

“I am in great shape at the moment, play well and have a lot of confidence,” Krawietz told afterwards. Semi-finals will start on Saturday 2pm.