Daily Times

MONTE CARLO: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina reached his first Masters semi-final on Friday adding Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz to his high profile scalps this week with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win in Monte Carlo. The 22-year-old Spaniard — ranked 46th in the world — ousted world number one Novak Djokovic in the second round and next plays the winner of inconsistent but talented Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday for a place in the final. Fritz had problems even in the first set as his Spanish opponent piled on the pressure — the American twice receiving treatment from a doctor courtside as he complained of stomach pain. The 10th-seeded American, though, secured the first set with a second break of serve. Davidovich Fokina battled back and levelled the match with his first set point when Fritz, surprised at the Spaniard retrieving a smash from him, sent his shot out. A netted smash from Fritz gave Davidovich Fokina two match points, the first of which he saved but the Spaniard made no mistake with the second one hitting a sublime right-handed winner.