After a strong performance against the 9th seed in the second round, Austin Krajicek’s run at the Shenzhen Challenger came to an abrupt end on Friday.
The American was thrashed 6-1, 6-3 by Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in the quarter-finals. It took the former US Open semi-finalist just over an hour to dismiss Krajicek. Youzhny broke four times, and dropped just nine points on his own serve. The Russian is the top seed in the tournament, and is looking in good form after rising 14 places to No.87 in the ATP rankings last week.
Youzhny could have attempted to qualify for the last Masters of the season in Paris, but it looks as if his decision to play in Challenger events instead have paid off, with a number of match wins.
The top quarter went with seeding, as 3rd seed Radu Albot also made the last four. He was made to work for it though, as Jason Jung took him the distance in a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 battle.
In the bottom half of the draw qualifier Hubert Hurkacz reached the semi-finals with a huge 6-3, 6-4 win over Soon Woo Kwon. It is the furthest that Hurkacz has gone in a Challenger this season, with his previous best three quarter-finals. Two of those three last eight showings have come in his last two events, suggesting that the 20 year-old Pole in the form of his young career. At No.343 in the rankings, a semi-final showing is perhaps going to be enough for him to break the Top 300 for the first time.
Another young star, Yibing Wu saw his excellent run to an end. The US Open Junior Boy’s Winner went down to the 2nd Blaz Kavcic. Wu took great credit in the defeat though, pushing the experienced man before Kavcic prevailed 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
Youzhny will play Albot on Saturday, whilst Kavcic will attempt to stop the hot Hurkacz, as the two finalists will be determined.
