Sousa Returns To SFs In Pune
Portugal’s Joao Sousa reached his first tour-level semi-final since 2019 Friday, cruising past fifth-seeded German Daniel Altmaier 6-2, 6-3 at the Tata Open Maharashtra.
The 32-year-old, who is making his debut in Pune, backed up his hard-fought three-set win over third seed Gianluca Mager with an impressive performance against Altmaier to upset another seed at the ATP 250 event. Sousa saved the one break point he faced to triumph after 74 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.”
With his victory, it is the 20th time the World No. 137 has advanced to the semi-finals at a tour-level event, but the first since St. Petersburg three years ago. The two-time tour-level titlist will next face Swede Elias Ymer after the qualifier downed eighth seed Stefano Travaglia 6-4, 7-6(4) to continue his dream run.
Ymer, who earned his first Top 20 victory against Aslan Karatsev in the second round, fired 10 aces en-route to his 89-minute win against Travaglia. It is the first time Ymer has reached the semi-finals at a tour-level event.
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In other action, sixth seed Emil Ruusuvouri maintained his strong start to the season, defeating defending champion Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-4 to reach his second semi-final of the year.
The Finn, who enjoyed a run to the last four at the Melbourne Summer Set in January, won 84 per cent (27/32) of his first-serve points against Vesely to advance in 78 minutes. The 22-year-old now leads the Czech 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head series.
Ruusuvuori is aiming to win his maiden tour-level trophy this week and will next play Pole Kamil Majchrzak. The World No. 95 clawed past #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 after two hours and 15 minutes to book his place in his first tour-level semi-final. Majchrzak captured three match wins at ATP Cup in January.
“I feel very good,” Majchrzak said. “I was waiting and working for this chance to make a mark on the ATP Tour. I am very happy about it, especially with today’s win against Lorenzo who is a talented player. I am pleased I managed my emotions at the end.”