Google News
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is through to his second Masters 1000 semi-final in Toronto, the first on a hard court. The Spaniard toppled Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud en route to the quarter-final and faced the American Mackenzie McDonald.
Alejandro beat Mackenzie 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 36 minutes for his best Masters 1000 result since Monte Carlo last year. The Spaniard clinched 16 points more than the American, losing serve two times and building the advantage with five return games on his tally.
Davidovich Fokina landed 18 winners and 25 unforced errors. McDonald could not follow that pace, missing a lot from his forehand and wrapping up the duel with a 13-36 ratio. Mackenzie was off to a great start, holding at love in the encounter's first game and delivering a break in game two to forge an early advantage.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Mackenzie McDonald in the Toronto quarter-final.
Alejandro broke back in the third game after the rival's loose forehand and denied a break point in the next one to lock the result at 2-2.
The American held after deuces in the seventh game, closing the game with a service winner and opening a 4-3 gap. The Spaniard erased a break point in the eighth game after forcing the rival's mistake and held to lock the result at 4-4.
With a boost on his side, Davidovich Fokina clinched a break at 15 in the ninth game, moving 5-4 ahead and serving for the opener. The Spaniard held at 15 with an ace, bringing the opening part of the duel home in 49 minutes and hoping for more in the second set.
Alejandro broke for the second straight time at the start of the second set from 40-15 down to extend the gap. McDonald lost the ground in those moments and sprayed a volley error in the third game to get broken for the third time in a row and find himself near the exit door.
Davidovich Fokina played against five break points in the fourth game and got broken after a double fault. However, the Spaniard rattled off his fourth break of serve a few minutes later, taming the rival's initial shot entirely and controlling the scoreboard.
Alejandro held at love in game six for 5-1 and served for the victory at 5-2. The Spaniard converted the third match point to emerge at the top and secure a place in his second Masters 1000 semi-final.