ATP: Auger-Aliassime knocks out Tsitsispas, Federer through

Canadian teen sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime has become the youngest player to reach the semifinals of the Queen’s Club championships since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago.

The outstanding 18-year-old, who knocked out Nick Kyrgios on Thursday, beat world No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-2 and will now become the youngest player since Hewitt in 1999 to break into the top-25.

Both players were playing their third match in two days due to the rain delays that have blighted the tournament this week.

RANKINGS WATCH: Will Djokovic stay No.1 on grass?

However, it was Auger-Aliassime who looked fresher, dispatching the 20-year-old Australian Open semi-finalist in almost an hour and 40 minutes.

“I had zero expectations coming here, but I’ve managed to handle my nerves and keep my serve all the time,” said Auger-Aliassime.

Tsitsipas, who is the player tipped by many to end the dominance of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on grass, said the youngster from Montreal should also be in that conversation.

Flawless, Flying Felix ??????????

Auger-Aliassime continues his dominance over Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 7-5, 6-2.

He’s the youngest man to reach the #QueensTennis SFs since Lleyton Hewitt in 1999. pic.twitter.com/Vrm1TD9ZKf

— Fever-Tree Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2019

“He’s the most difficult opponent I’ve ever faced, and I think it’s gonna take a couple of tries to beat him,” said Tsitsipas.

“It is very difficult, because he has one of the best returns on the tour. He has a really powerful, accurate serve, which is tough to read.

“He’s really quick and fast, which is rare to find all of that combinations together.”

The eighth seed from Montreal will now face Spanish veteran and 2017 champion Feliciano Lopez, who beat Auger-Aliassime’s fellow Canadian Milos Raonic.

In the other side of the draw, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev became the first Russian to reach the last-four at the tournament in the professional era as he had too much firepower for Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.

Medvedev, 23, will play Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat fellow veteran and compatriot Nicolas Mahut, for a place in the final.

In Germany, world No.4 Alexander Zverev’s quest for a first title at the Halle Open came to a grinding halt as the two-times runner-up was stunned 3-6 6-1 7-6(3) by David Goffin in the quarterfinals.

Belgium’s Goffin saved seven of 10 break points to overcome the tournament’s second seed and home favourite in two hours and 16 minutes on Friday to set up a semifinal clash with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who beat third seed Karen Khachanov 6-2 7-6(4).

Although Zverev fired 14 aces in the match, his erratic serve was on display at the Gerry Weber Stadion as the 22-year-old made nine double faults to lose to Goffin for the first time in three meetings between the pair.

Goffin had a chance to seal the match in the third set at 5-4 but Zverev saved two match points to take it to a tiebreak, where the Belgian triumphed after winning all his service points.

Later, Roger Federer survived a mid-match scare to get past Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 4-6 6-4 and reach the last four at Halle for a 15th time as he chases a 10th title in the tournament.

Up next for Federer is Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who progressed after defending champion Borna Coric was forced to retire from their quarterfinal after dropping the opening set 7-5 due to a suspected back injury.