Lorenzo Sonego beat Sebastian Korda 6-4 6-4 to advance to the semifinal at the Moselle Open in Metz. Sonego has improved his lead to 3-1 in his four head-to-head matches against Korda.
Sonego earned his first break in the third game at love and held serve to take a 3-1 lead. The Italian player held his next service games to seal the first set 6-4.
Sonego held serve at deuce in the second game of the second set. He rallied from 15-40 to save the first two points he faced in the sixth game for 3-3. Sonego broke serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Sonego earned a match point in the ninth game, but Korda saved it. Sonego sealed the second set 6-4 with a down the line forehand.
Sonego has won all six sets he has played this week. The Italian player will play his first semifinal since Buenos Aires last February. He will move up to world number 54 next week. Two years ago he beat Novak Djokovic in Vienna to reach his first ATP 500 final.
Sonego will face Hubert Hurkacz, who beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour. Hurkacz broke serve in the fourth game to win the first set 6-4. Hurkacz saved the only break point he faced at 1-2 in the second set before winning the final five games of the match in the fifth and seventh game. Hurkacz can return to the top 10 by reaching the Metz final.
