ATP Challenger Lille: Form found – Rodionov follows next semi-finalist – ÖTV

Just a week earlier he had defended his title at Peel, thus celebrating the sixth ATP victory of his career. Also this week, Yurij Rodionov very impressively confirmed on the field that he is back in form after a mixed start to the season. The 23-year-old has now reached the semi-finals of the ATP 100 hard court event in Lille. On the way there, the second seed Lower Austrian (ATP 131) made up for the set deficit twice. He hasn’t lost in eight matches.

In the first round, Rodionov eliminated Australian Li Tou (229 ATP), whom he had defeated 6-3, 6-3 in Rovereto (Italy) just five weeks earlier, this time 5-7, 6-2, 6: 2. In the role The 16th, in a left-handed duel with French seed Kenny de Schepper (ATP 348), formerly No. 62 in the world, also made it 2-0 head-to-head with 6: 4, 6: 4. In Cherbourg 2021 he triumphed 7: 5, 3 :6, 6:3. And in the quarterfinals late on Friday night, he defeated 21-year-old Canadian rookie Davis Cup native Gabrielle Diallo (ATP 212) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Rodionov had to overcome a difficult situation, especially when the score was 2: 6, 3: 4 and three break balls against himself. However, after the equalizer, he clearly set the tone in the third period and lost only eight points from 0: 1.

High career targeting

On Saturday, Rodionov will face fourth-ranked Finn Otto Virtanen (ATP 139) in the fight for a place in the final, which he defeated in the quarterfinals in Biel 7: 6 (4), 5: 7, 6: 3 . He is confident with 36 ATP points, with which he surpasses compatriot Sebastian Offner by two points and remains the second Austrian in the ATP rankings on Monday. In addition, he can improve his career from November 28, 2022 by one place, because he is currently ranked 119th in the direct standings. Another win would put him in the top 110 for the first time, and a next title win would put him close to the top 100.

Here are all the results from the ATP 100 Challenger in Lille.