Winston-Salem | Huesler brings Draper’s run to an end

Britain’s No.4, Jack Draper fine run a the Winston-Salem Open in preparation for next week’s US Open, came to an abrupt end at the hands of Swiss qualifier, Marc-Andrea Huesler.

The world No.96 produced a dominant performance to oust the Brit ranked 55 and seeded 13, in just 80-miutes, 6-4 6-4 and could become the first qualifier to win the ATP 250 event having just become only the fourth to ever make the last four.

Standing in his way is Serbia’s Laslo Djere who progressed after eliminating the French veteran Richard Gasquet 6-4 3-6 7-6(6) following a two-hour 41-minute battle.

In the bottom half another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino, proved more successful as he beat the fourth-seeded serve-and-volleying advocate Maxime Cressy of the US 6-4 7-6(3).

The unseeded Mannarino secured his third straight sets victory over seeded players which included earlier wins over Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori (9) and Spain’s eighth seed Albert Ramos Vinolas (8), to set up a match against second-seeded Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.

“It was a good match,” Mannarino said. “Maxime is a good friend and a good player. He already beat me earlier this year and I knew it was going to be a tough match.”

Van de Zandschulp won two tiebreakers and landed 15 aces to beat 10th-seeded Benjamin Bonzi of France 7-6(6) 7-6(1) and prevent an all-French semi-final.

The Dutchman will move into the world’s top 20 for the first time if he can win the tournament and claim the first title of his career.

The doubles final will feature third seeds Mathew Ebden of Australia and his British partner Jamie Murray who downed Simone Bolelli of Italy and Brazilian Marcelo Melo 7-6(2) 6-2 after Monagesque Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski of Poland scored a 6-4 7-6(4) upset against the fourth seeds, Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara of Finland.