Top seed and defending champion Alexander Bublik moved into the Kitzbühel semi-finals on Thursday, capping a day in which every quarter-final finished in straight sets at the clay-court ATP 250 event. The world No. 11 defeated Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes, converting four of eight break points to book a last-four meeting with Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Bublik and Etcheverry Advance to Semi-Finals
Bublik briefly stalled after leading by a set and a break, handing back serve with five double faults in a single game at 2-1 in the second set, but quickly regained control. The 29-year-old avenged his April loss to Molcan in Munich, leveling their head-to-head at 1-1, and became the first defending champion to reach the Kitzbühel semi-finals since 2013.
Earlier, Etcheverry beat fifth seed Ignacio Buse 6-2, 7-5 to advance to his 10th ATP Tour semi-final, all of which have come on clay. The 26-year-old Argentine will face Bublik on Friday, promising an exciting match-up between two strong competitors.
In the bottom half, Yannick Hanfmann eased past 2023 champion Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-1. The German improved his record at the event to 15-7 and will contest his fourth Kitzbühel semi-final. At 34 years and eight months, he is the oldest semi-finalist in the tournament’s history. Hanfmann will meet Quentin Halys, who defeated Mariano Navone 7-5, 6-3 to claim his 17th tour-level win of the season and rise 11 places to a live ranking of No. 72.
Friday’s semi-finals promise to deliver thrilling tennis action: Bublik vs. Etcheverry; Hanfmann vs. Halys. Tennis fans are eagerly anticipating these matches, as each player has shown exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament.