Paris (AFP)
Filip Krajinovic, who has arrived in Stockholm after losing three games in a row, has only one more game to win - the final on Sunday against Denis Shapovalov - to lift the first trophy of his career. A dream that also caresses the Canadian.
"Thanks to you for coming to watch this very meaningful match for me, playing the final in Stockholm is a dream come true," said the Serb, the 60th player, after defeating Spain's Pablo Carreno (35e) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, Saturday.
Finalist in Budapest after qualifying, 27-year-old Krajinovic made his first appearance at the Paris Masters 1000 in 2017, bowing only to Jack Sock of the United States in the final step. .
He promised to "give the best of himself for his third final" on Sunday. "I hope tomorrow will be the day of my first trophy but I know it will be very difficult," said the Serb.
For his part, Denis Shapovalov, 34th in the world at the age of 20, had fewer problems to eliminate the Japanese Yuichi Sugita, 129th, 7-5, 6-2, and end a series of seven semi-finals lost.
A certainty on Sunday: Krajinovic or Shapovalov will become the 15th winner of his first title this season, a first since 1999 when they were 16 to hold off their first career trophy.
© 2019 AFP