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Murray, Dimitrov ease through to final
BEIJING: Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov eased into the final of the China Open on Saturday – the latter without playing.
BEIJING: Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov eased into the final of the China Open on Saturday – the latter without playing.
Top-seeded Murray beat fifthseeded David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3 to reach his ninth final of the season, while Dimitrov advanced with a walkover against thirdseeded Milos Raonic of Canada.
Dimitrov had a walkover against Raonic, who injured his ankle during his quarterfinal victory against Pablo Carreno Busta on Friday.
On the women’s side, Johanna Konta assured herself of a place in the next WTA top-10 rankings – the first British woman to do so since Jo Durie in 1984 – after defeating Madison Keys 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4.
Konta faces Agnieszka Radwanska in the final. The thirdseeded Pole beat 16th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 7-6 (3), 6-3.
KYRGIOS, GOFFIN TO FIGHT FOR TITLE
TOKYO: Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios will take on Belgium’s David Goffin at the Japan Open final after both men stomped on more experienced opponents in their semifinals.
Sixth seed Kyrgios overpowered French second seed Gael Monfils with a succession of fiery forehand shots that only intensified in the second set, taking him to a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Fifth-seeded Goffin, the world’s number 14, also beat fourth seed Marin Cilic, ranked 11th in the world, in a 7-5, 6-4 win.
The final will be the first tourlevel encounter between the two men, with Goffin vowing to make Kyrgios work hard.
“I have capacity to win a tournament like this,” Goffin said.
“Nick has fantastic serves, big forehands. I have to make him run a lot,” he added.
Meanwhile Kyrgios, known for his controversial outbursts and unpredictable performances, shrugged off fans’ expectations and called the final “just a tennis match”.
