Lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego of Italy followed up his shock win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic by beating Britain’s Dan Evans to reach the Vienna ATP final on Saturday, October 31.
Sonego had condemned Djokovic to his heaviest best-of-three-set loss in the quarterfinals where the 17-time major winner claimed just 3 games.
The world No. 42, who described that as “the best victory of my life”, saw off Evans 6-3, 6-4 and will face red-hot Russian Andrey Rublev in Sunday’s final.
“I’m really happy. After yesterday it was not easy playing against Evans because he has a good talent,” said Sonego.
“He has a good backhand and it was not easy. But today I won and I am so happy.”
Sonego, 25, had initially lost in the final round of qualifying in the Austrian capital to Aljaz Bedene 6 days ago, but entered the draw as a lucky loser when Diego Schwartzman withdrew.
World No. 8 Rublev made the final when South Africa’s Kevin Anderson retired with a leg injury at 6-4, 4-1 down.
Rublev, chasing a fifth title of this truncated season, has won 18 of his past 19 matches.
“I came here thinking that I have nothing to lose. I already did a really great season, so I came here to enjoy, to do my best, to fight for every point, every match, and now here I am in the final,” said the 23-year-old.
“I want to keep thinking in the same way and we’ll see what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Rublev, the fifth seed, eliminated defending champion Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals on Friday and has not dropped a set this week.
He has also yet to drop serve. – Rappler.com
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