Auckland (AFP)
Frenchman Benoît Paire, world N.24, qualified for the semifinals of the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland by beating Australian John Millman 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in quarters on Thursday.
The 30-year-old from Avignon joins another Frenchman, Ugo Humbert, 21, and 57th in the world, in the last four. From qualifications, Humbert created a huge surprise by defeating the great Canadian hope Denis Shapovalov (N.13 world at 20 years), 7-5, 6-4.
Paire started his match badly by conceding the first inning to the 47th player in the world, before winning the next two, and the match in 1h43 min.
He will meet for a place in the final the winner of the last quarter between the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 38 years old and 61st in the world, to the Polish Hubert Hurcacz, 22 years old and 34th in the world.
Humbert will face American John Isner, world No. 20 at 34, double winner of the tournament (in 2010 and 2014), which eliminated the Briton Kyle Edmund (N. 69) 7-6 (7/5) , 7-6 (7/5) by scoring 25 aces.
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