ANTWERP, Belgium — France’s Hugo Gaston stunned ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur in three sets to record his first career top 10 win and make the semifinals of the Antwerp ATP tournament on Friday.
The 77th-ranked Gaston came through against the top seed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to register his second win over the Australian having also prevailed at the 2022 French Open.
“It was really close. Alex is such a great player, playing unbelievable tennis this year and in the past few years,” said Gaston.
Gaston will next face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, who defeated third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).
Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was also knocked out on Friday, losing to 33rd-ranked Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4.
Appearing in his 14th tour-level quarterfinal, 22-year-old Lehecka hit 19 winners, including eight aces and did not face a break point.
The fifth seed will play either Marcos Giron of the United States or Sweden’s Zizou Bergs for a place on the final.
Meanwhile, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan pulled out of next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Friday because of a back injury.
The former world No. 1 has been sidelined since she retired from her last-16 match at the China Open against eventual champion Coco Gauff at the start of the month.
She then pulled out of this week’s Japan Open in Osaka.
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