Third seed Lorenzo Sonego reached his fourth ATP Tour final of his career on Friday at the Viking International Eastbourne as he overcame Max Purcell 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to record his 18th tour-level win of the season.
The Italian, who won the Sardegna Open (d. Djere) in Cagliari in April, hit five aces against the Australian lucky loser to continue his impressive year. Sonego will be aiming to claim his second grass-court title on Saturday against Alex de Minaur after winning the Turkish Airlines Open Antalya crown (d. Kecmanovic) in 2019.
“I am really happy because this is my second final on grass and I like the conditions here because I can go to the net,” Sonego said. “I am serving well, I am more offensive, and I want to do the same tomorrow.
“With only three tournaments on grass, it is not easy to adapt. But my tennis is good for this surface because I serve well and if I return better, I can have a great tournament each week.”
[WATCH LIVE 2]
Sonego, No. 27 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set and moved a double break ahead in the sixth game when he fired a forehand winner past Purcell. The 26-year-old closed out the opener on serve against the World No. 283, who had to have treatment on a back injury at the end of the first set.
Purcell was contesting in his first ATP Tour semi-final on Friday and grew into the match in the second set. The 23-year-old improved on return and around the net to lead 4-2 before levelling the contest on serve. It was the sixth time this week that Purcell had gone to a deciding set in Eastbourne.
However, Sonego regained his control in the final set, winning 57 per cent (4/7) of points on Purcell’s second serve as he broke the Australian twice to claim victory in 98 minutes.
Second seed De Minaur awaits in the final for Sonego, after the Australian produced a dominant display to beat Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 7-6(2) in 81 minutes.
De Minaur, who is at a career-high No. 18 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, won 74 per cent (28/38) of his first-service points to advance. He will be looking to win his fifth ATP Tour title and first on grass on Saturday, with all four previously coming on hard.
“I am very happy to be playing in another final,” De Minaur said. “I am playing some great tennis on the grass. I am really enjoying myself out there and hopefully I can play well tomorrow and take it home.
“I think for me, the clay season is a long stint, so I was looking forward to the grass season. I have gained confidence from every match I have won, and I have had a lot of matches under my belt. All these things help each other.”
The 23-year-old has not dropped a set in Eastbourne this week and broke Kwon in the fourth game when the World No. 77 netted a forehand. While De Minaur was broken back, he regained his advantage to move 5-3 ahead, stepping inside the court to dictate on his flat forehand.
De Minaur continued to play aggressively in the second set as he raced 3-1 ahead. Kwon produced a superb volley to fend off a break point in the fifth game and broke back at 4-5. However, Kwon could not produce a comeback against the Australian as he fell in the tie-break. De Minaur goes into the championship match against Sonego with a 1-0 lead in their ATP Head2Head series.
Kwon was competing in his maiden ATP tour semi-final after winning his first quarter-final in his eighth attempt against Ilya Ivashka on Thursday. The South Korean is now 10-10 on season.
The Italian, who won the Sardegna Open (d. Djere) in Cagliari in April, hit five aces against the Australian lucky loser to continue his impressive year. Sonego will be aiming to claim his second grass-court title on Saturday against Alex de Minaur after winning the Turkish Airlines Open Antalya crown (d. Kecmanovic) in 2019.
“I am really happy because this is my second final on grass and I like the conditions here because I can go to the net,” Sonego said. “I am serving well, I am more offensive, and I want to do the same tomorrow.
“With only three tournaments on grass, it is not easy to adapt. But my tennis is good for this surface because I serve well and if I return better, I can have a great tournament each week.”
[WATCH LIVE 2]
Sonego, No. 27 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set and moved a double break ahead in the sixth game when he fired a forehand winner past Purcell. The 26-year-old closed out the opener on serve against the World No. 283, who had to have treatment on a back injury at the end of the first set.
Purcell was contesting in his first ATP Tour semi-final on Friday and grew into the match in the second set. The 23-year-old improved on return and around the net to lead 4-2 before levelling the contest on serve. It was the sixth time this week that Purcell had gone to a deciding set in Eastbourne.
However, Sonego regained his control in the final set, winning 57 per cent (4/7) of points on Purcell’s second serve as he broke the Australian twice to claim victory in 98 minutes.
Second seed De Minaur awaits in the final for Sonego, after the Australian produced a dominant display to beat Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 7-6(2) in 81 minutes.
De Minaur, who is at a career-high No. 18 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, won 74 per cent (28/38) of his first-service points to advance. He will be looking to win his fifth ATP Tour title and first on grass on Saturday, with all four previously coming on hard.
“I am very happy to be playing in another final,” De Minaur said. “I am playing some great tennis on the grass. I am really enjoying myself out there and hopefully I can play well tomorrow and take it home.
“I think for me, the clay season is a long stint, so I was looking forward to the grass season. I have gained confidence from every match I have won, and I have had a lot of matches under my belt. All these things help each other.”
The 23-year-old has not dropped a set in Eastbourne this week and broke Kwon in the fourth game when the World No. 77 netted a forehand. While De Minaur was broken back, he regained his advantage to move 5-3 ahead, stepping inside the court to dictate on his flat forehand.
De Minaur continued to play aggressively in the second set as he raced 3-1 ahead. Kwon produced a superb volley to fend off a break point in the fifth game and broke back at 4-5. However, Kwon could not produce a comeback against the Australian as he fell in the tie-break. De Minaur goes into the championship match against Sonego with a 1-0 lead in their ATP Head2Head series.
Kwon was competing in his maiden ATP tour semi-final after winning his first quarter-final in his eighth attempt against Ilya Ivashka on Thursday. The South Korean is now 10-10 on season.