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Korda surges into Adelaide semis for second year / Photo: © AFP
Korda surges into Adelaide semis for second year
Third seed Sebastian Korda powered into the Adelaide International semi-finals for a second straight year Thursday, but needed five match points to set up a last four clash with seventh seed Jiri Lehecka.
The American, son of 1998 Australian Open winner Czech Petr Korda, finished runner-up at Memorial Drive in 2023, losing to Novak Djokovic.
He defeated Christopher O'Connell 6-4, 6-4 to keep his dream alive of going one better this year, but was tested in the final game.
"I didn't play badly on the match points, but he really raised his level," said Korda, an Australian Open quarter-finalist last season.
"I'm happy to get through that one. I wish we had more weeks in Adelaide, I've played some really good tennis here."
He will bid for a second consecutive final against Czech Lehecka, who was too good for Chilean second seed Nicolas Jarry, winning 6-4, 7-5.
Lehecka broke three times and finished with his ninth ace in scorching hot weather.
"It's not easy to play in these conditions even under the (moveable) roof," Lehecka said. "I managed it well, I'm happy to be through.
"The semi-final with Seb will be super-tough, there are no easy matches at this level."
Russia's Alexander Bublik also made the semis, ousting Italian fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 and will play the winner from American top seed Tommy Paul and Briton Jack Draper.
In women's action, sixth seed Jelena Ostapenko survived a wobble in the first set but regained concentration to ease past Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 6-3.
"It was a tough match of course," Ostapenko said.
"There have been times when I've needed to step into the point and put more pressure on the opponent. I need to go for my shots, even if I miss."
Top seed Elena Rybakina headlines the night session against Ekaterina Alexandrova, with Ostapenko awaiting the winner.
One quarter-final was determined without a ball struck when Germany's Laura Siegemund pulled out of her match with Russia's Daria Kasatkina injured.
Kasatkina will play either American second seed Jessica Pegula or veteran qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
At the WTA Hobart International, Belgian top seed Elise Mertens stayed on track with a 7-5, 6-0 win over the Netherlands' Arantxa Rus.
She will face Daria Saville for a place in the final after the Australian fought past China's Zhu Lin in three sets.
G. Pires--JDB
