SURBITON, June 10, 2018
Jeremy Chardy brought Dan Evans’ run of six straight victories to an end with a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over the Briton in their semi-final clash at the Fuzion 100 Surbiton Trophy on Saturday.
The big-serving Frenchman, who is the top seed in the men’s draw, was in impressive form as he overcame qualifier Evans in a tight affair in one hour 25 minutes.
“It was a really close match. It’s always the same on the grass courts, you need to hold your serve and try to take your chances which I did in the first set and in the second set I played a really good tiebreak so that’s why I won. I feel good to win and to be in the final,” said the former world No. 25.
Chardy’s opponent in the final will be No. 6 seed Alex De Minaur who defeated qualifier Matthew Ebden 6-4, 6-4 in the second men’s semi-final. The 19-year-old Australian needed one hour 29 minutes to battle past the 2015 Surbiton champion and reach his first ATP Challenger final on grass.
“I had to play some very good tennis today. Matthew is a great grass court player and he made it very tough for me,” said De Minaur. “I was able to fight off many break points and I think at the end of the day that was the key. I was able to hold onto my serve and then I managed to get those two breaks at the end of each set.”
Riske to take on Perrrin in women’s final
Harriet Dart suffered a heart-breaking loss in her semi-final against Conny Perrin in the opening match on Centre Court. The London-based player served for the match twice and held three match points before succumbing to her Swiss opponent 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5).
“I knew it would be tough again today, every Brit is really good on grass. It was not easy but I kept fighting and doing my best and I’m really happy I got through again,” said Perrin, who has needed three sets to prevail in all four of her matches this week.
Perrin’s final opponent, Alison Riske from the United States, has yet to drop a set this week in Surbiton. The No. 2 seed produced another clinical performance on Saturday to see off Priscilla Hon of Australia 7-5, 6-3 in her semi-final match.
“She’s a great young player but I felt like I stuck in there and played very solid today. There were good crowds – it’s been great all week – which is awesome and there was a good atmosphere for sure,” said the world No. 83.
The women’s final starts at 12 noon on Sunday with the men’s final scheduled to take place not before 2pm.
