Berrettini brushes aside Evans to reach Queen's semi-finals
Matteo Berrettini beat Dan Evans 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to reach the Queen's tournament semi-finals.
LONDON (AFP) - Matteo Berrettini followed up his win over Andy Murray with a straight sets victory over Dan Evans 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to reach the Queen s tournament semi-finals on Friday.
The top-seeded Italian made light of the day s play being delayed by four hours due to torrential rain and exposed the gap between him and the British number one once he came through a tough first set.
The 25-year-old, ranked ninth in the world and one of 10 Italians in the top 100, broke sixth-seeded Evans to love to go 5-3 up in the second.
He will now play Australian fourth seed Alex de Minaur who defeated 2017 Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
"In the tie-break there were a few points I did not serve well but I played better in the last few points," said Berrettini.
"Then I felt more confident, they were difficult conditions and it took time to get up to speed but I am pretty happy with my performance."
Berrettini said he was not playing Queen s for the first time just to get some practice on grass ahead of Wimbledon which gets underway on Monday week.
"I came here to win the tournament," he said.
"Obviously I think match by match and I am two steps away.
"I will think about the next one tonight but I am happy with the way I am playing and my mental attitude is really good."
The home crowd will at least have one Briton to cheer on in the semi-finals after Cameron Norrie defeated compatriot Jack Draper 6-3, 6-3.
The winner of that tie will play either Canada s second seed Denis Shapovalov or Frances Tiafoe of the United States.
Shapovalov was 6-3 ahead when play was halted for darkness with the match to be completed on Saturday.
