BERLIN, July 13, 2020

Jannik Sinner set a semi-final clash with top seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem at the bett1ACES international tennis exhibition in Berlin. In front of about 300 spectators inside the Steffi Graf Stadium, the 18-year-old Italian emerged victorious from Monday’s battle of the generations with 42-year-old German Tommy Haas, winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-8.

POINT 🎾
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— Vinny (@MatterTipTennis) July 13, 2020

Thiem was actually hoping for a first-ever meeting with the current tournament director of the BNP Parisbas Open in Indian Wells. “I haven’t played against either of them,” the World No. 3 said during his press conference after his arrival in Berlin.

“I’d like to play a real match against Tommy, he’s a great role model in many things, especially in terms of his backhand. He has a very aesthetic game. I’ve only played against him once at the Tiebreak Tens event in Vienna. I think that I will play against Jannik more often in the future.”

Earlier in the day, Roberto Bautista Agut from Spain defeated Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. The 32-year-old from Castellon de Plana will next take on Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who clinched the title of the inaugural Ultimate Tennis Showdown at the Mouratoglou Tennis Acedemy in Sophia Antipolis on Sunday.

“The match was at a decent level. Of course it’s a shame that I lost,” a disappointed Struff said.

Germans fall in women’s draw

In the women’s draw, Anastasija Sevastova benefited from the retirement of Julia Görges from Germany, who was forced to withdraw at 6-3, 4-3 for the Latvian, when Görges twisted her ankle while hitting a return. Sevastova will next take on top seed Elina Svitolina from the Ukraine.

In the second quarterfinal, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic beat Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4, 6-1 to meet second seed Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands in the stage of the final four.

Tuesday’s matches will start at noon local time.