Chris O’Connell will face No.1 seed Holger Rune in the second ATP-level semifinal of his career, and first on clay, in Munich.
Munich, Germany, 22 April 2023 | AAP / Tennis Australia
Munich, Germany
Chris O’Connell has won a war of attrition on the Munich clay to reach the second ATP Tour semifinal of his professional career at the BMW Open.
Fresh from his career-best triumph over German hero Alexander Zverev on Thursday, O’Connell followed up 24 hours later by prevailing 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-3 in a quarterfinal dogfight with Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli.
It had been a freezing lunchtime when he downed Olympic champ Zverev, but the sun was out on Friday as O’Connell had to dig deep against the 20-year-old Cobolli, already a conqueror of another Sydneysider Jordan Thompson earlier in the event.
The 28-year-old prevailed after nearly two-and-a-half hours, overcoming a second-set letdown when he appeared to be struggling physically before summoning new reserves of energy in the decider.
First ATP semi-final on clay 🙌
Christopher O’Connell defeats Flavio Cobolli 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 to reach the semis at #BMWOpenbyAmex pic.twitter.com/kDYmueOyGV
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 21, 2023
O’Connell had also been in trouble in the hour-long opening set, having to save three set points at 4-5 down before eventually taking the tiebreak when Cobolli offered up a double fault at set point down.
It provided world No.82 O’Connell with his first taste of last-four action in a tour-level event since he reached the semifinals in San Diego last September. It will be his first semifinal on clay.
A victory would transport O’Connell not only to his first final but also to a career-high ranking.
He’ll face a tough assignment against Denmark’s in-form defending champ Holger Rune, who disposed of Chile’s Cristian Garin 6-2 6-4 in quite ruthless fashion.
Now at a career-high world N0.7, Rune claimed his maiden event at the 2022 Munich tournament.
The 19-year-old was also a finalist at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters but admitted after outplaying Garin: “I have played a lot of matches, so the body is maybe not ideal.”
Aussies in action – Munich
RESULTS
Men’s singles, quarterfinals
Christopher O’Connell (AUS) d [Q] Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
COMING UP
Men’s singles, semifinals
Christopher O’Connell (AUS) v [1] Holger Rune (DEN) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3
O’Connell cruises through… 🛳
He takes out Cobolli to secure his…
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