Kyrgios is playing with fire against Tiafoe but is still in contention for the title

the australian Nick Kyrgios hit 35 service winners on Friday to beat American Francis Tiafoe 6-7(5), 7-6(12), 6-2 and will stand in the semifinals of the Washington tournament, where he will face the Swedish Mikael Ymer, on a day where the early favorite, the Russian Andrey Rublev, also advanced.

Both Kyrgios and Rublev qualified for the semifinals after winning two rounds on the same day, as Thursday’s program was abandoned due to rain in Washington and prevented the completion of the quarterfinals.

After eliminating American Reilly Opelka in the quarters, Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios eliminated Tiafoe on five match points in the second set tiebreak and, based on winning aces, he was able to level the match by winning the ‘tie-break’ 14-12.

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Tiafoe lost his temper after losing the second set and angrily protested to the referee. It was difficult for him to regain concentration and Kyrgios took advantage to complete his comeback in the third set and protect his ticket for the semifinals with 6-2.

His rival will be Swedish Mikael Ymernumber 115 in the world and one of the revelations of the tournament.

He defeated an American Sebastian Korda 6-2, 5-7 and 6-3 who, a few hours before, won 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2 against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov after more than two hours to fight

The other semifinal will be played by Rublevworld number 8, who won two rounds on the same day, beating American Maxime Cressy 6-4, 7-6(10), in the round of 16, and 6-2, 6-3 against fellow American Jeffey Wolf .

Rain also conditioned Friday’s program, temporarily suspending the afternoon and evening matches, but did not prevent the semifinals from being completed.

Rublev’s opponent in the semifinals will be Japanese Yoshihito Nishiokanumber 96 in the world, winning the battle of three hours and 34 minutes 7-6 (5), 4-6 and 7-5.

The 26-year-old Japanese reached his first semifinal since 2020, when he was a finalist in Delray Beach and lost to American Reilly Opelka.

In the women’s circuit, Estonian Kaia Kanepi (n.37) eliminated Anna Kalinskaya (n.71), defeated her 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, and will face Australian Daria Savile, who defeated Canadian Rebecca Marino 6-1, 6-4.

The other semifinal will be played by Chinese Xiyu Wang (n.95) against Russian Liudmila Samsonova (n.60), defeating British Emma Raducanu (n.10) 7-6(6) and 6-1.

Wang defeated Belarusian Viktoria Azarenka, number 20, 6-1, 6-3, who was significantly hampered by an injury to her right thigh.

Azarenka has to play two games this Friday, as their quarterfinal match on Thursday was not completed due to heavy rain in Washington.