Semi final day in Paris and the finalists in the Rolex Paris Masters would be known at its conclusion.
The first semi final:
- Dominic Thiem (6) v Karen Khachanov
The 22 year old Russian has enjoyed a great 2018, and here in Paris is displaying his very best. Entering the tournament at a career high of 18, Khachanov still had yet to break through the very top, winning only 3 of 19 matches against top ten players.
He had won four matches at Masters 1000 level prior to 2018 - this year that had risen to 19 before the Paris semi final.
The two powerful hitters were at it again but Khachanov controlled the match from the outset, pushing Thiem back with punishing deep ground strokes, and clever angles often making it difficult for the Austrian to manufacture any reply of worth.
Thiem is a quality player, though, and he kept Khachanov working hard in the opening set, and it was just the single service break which won it 6-4 for Russia.
Set two wasn’t close. Khachanov destroyed the Thiem second serve, winning 11 of the 12 points available when it was necessary.
After sharing the opening two games with service breaks, Khachanov helped himself to the final five games, shattering the Austrian serve a further three times, and booking a place in his first Masters 1000 final.
6-4 6-1 was the scoreline, and this was the third top ten player given marching orders by Karen Khachanov this week.
A fourth one from the top ten would need to be vanquished should Khachanov wish to win the trophy.
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