Paris: Jack Sock ended local favourite Julien Benneteau’s run at the Paris Masters with a 7-5, 6-2 victory to reach the final and move to the brink of an ATP Finals spot, Saturday.
The American 16th seed, who started the week in 24th place in the race to the season-ending tournament in London, needs to win the title against Filip Krajinovic to take part in the November 12-19 event after the Serbian qualifier beat another American, John Isner 6-4, 6-7(6-2) 7-6(6-5).
Sock broke decisively for 6-5 in the opening set when he benefited from a net cord. Benneteau was broken twice in the second set, each time serving a double fault on break point as Sock cantered to victory.
Earlier, Krajinovic ended ninth seed Isner’s hopes of reaching the ATP Finals. The World No.77 was 3-0 down in the deciding-set tiebreak but he kept his composure to prevail on the first match point.
Krajinovic, who benefited from World No.1 Rafa Nadal’s withdrawal in the quarterfinals, held serve throughout and relied on his quick backhand to unsettle Isner. Krajinovic made only four unforced errors in the opening set, saving three break points, and broke on his only opportunity to take a 3-2 lead with a fine service return and closed it out when Isner buried a forehand in the net.
Isner breezed through the second-set tiebreak and he seemed on his way to winning another tiebreaker in the third set when he opened up a 3-0 lead. Krajinovic had other ideas as he won seven of the nine following points to reach his first ATP final, triggering wild celebrations in his camp.
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