PUNE/STARNBERG, February 4, 2022
World No. 163 Elias Ymer continued his fine run of form this week in Pune, India, by reaching his first semi-final on the ATP Tour at the Tata Open Maharashtra.
The 25-year-old Swedish qualifier, who earned his first Top 20 victory against the tournament’s top favourite Aslan Karatsev from Russia in the second round, defeated No. 8 seed Stefano Travaglia of Italy 6-4, 7-6(4) on Friday. Ymer struck 10 aces and won 83 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 27 minutes.
What a MOMENT 🙌@eliasymer is through to his first-ever ATP semi-final after defeating Travaglia 6-4 7-6 at the #TataOpenMaharastra pic.twitter.com/YZv40Ek9ft
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 4, 2022
The six-time ATP Challenger champion from Skara, who celebrated his last title win here in Pune in November 2018, will next take on Portuguese veteran Joao Sousa. The 32-year-old knocked off fifth seed Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-2, 6-3.
Sousa saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on three of his own six break-point chances to advance to his first tour-level semi-final since the St. Petersburg Open 2019 after 72 minutes.
“Today was a great match,” Sousa said in his on-court interview. “I think I played a great match, I was very solid. I knew it was going to be a tough match, so I was prepared to run a lot. I am really happy with the way I played today and I am happy to be in the semi-finals.”
In the first semi-final on Saturday, No. 8 seed Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland will take on Kamil Majchrzak from Poland.
