TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open 2016: Friday Tennis Results and Updated Schedule
Second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov is safely through to the semi-finals of the 2016 TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open after beating Jiri Vesely in straight sets.
The Bulgarian swept past his opponent with considerable ease on Friday after a gritty first-set encounter, eventually prevailing 7-6 (1), 6-1 against the sixth seed on Day 7 of the tournament at Garanti Koza Arena.
Argentinian Diego Schwartzman also secured his place in the last four of the competition with a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.
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In Friday’s other final-eight encounters, Federico Delbonis secured his place in the next round with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 triumph over Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Ivo Karlovic beat Marcel Granollers in a three-set battle, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 6-4.
Here are the full results from Friday's matches, the upcoming schedule and a recap of the best action:
| Quarter-Finals | Diego Schwartzman def. Damir Dzumhur | 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4 |
| Quarter-Finals | Federico Delbonis def. Albert Ramos-Vinolas | 7-6 (6), 6-4 |
| Quarter-Finals | Grigor Dimitrov def. Jiri Vesely | 7-6 (1), 6-1 |
| Quarter-Finals | Ivo Karlovic def. Marcel Granollers | 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 6-4 |
| Semi-Finals | Grigor Dimitrov vs. Ivo Karlovic |
| Semi-Finals | Diego Schwartzman vs. Federico Delbonis |
Friday Recap
Dimitrov is now just one win away from sealing his place in the final of the Istanbul Open for the eighth time after overcoming his Czech opponent.
The 24-year-old took 77 minutes to complete the job after battling through a tense first set, as he fought his way back from being down 5-2.
Dimitrov—who reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2014—also saved a set point while down 5-4 as he turned the tables of the match to triumph by one point in the tiebreak.
Tennis writer Ricky Dimon provided footage of the passing backhand winner down the tramline to save the set point:
Tennis coach Paul McNamee felt Dimitrov's effort replicated a shot by 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer:
However, there was no stopping the Bulgarian in the second set, as he raced away into the distance to secure a straight-sets victory, claiming the second set by a convincing margin of 6-1.
He'll face third-seeded Karlovic in the next round after the Croatian saw off Granollers.
Straight off the back of his 300th career win in the previous round, Karlovic was pitted against the Spanish sixth seed.
He had to work for the victory in a gruelling encounter that finally saw him prevail in three sets.
Tennis writer Fabio Valente revealed a statistic that will sting Granollers after the match:
Elsewhere on Day 7, Schwartzman reached his second consecutive semi-final in the competition after continuing his impressive form over Dzumhur.
TennisTV provided the tale of the tape from their quarter-final clash:
The 23-year-old, who upset Australia's Bernard Tomic in the earlier round, had to come from behind after dropping the first set, finally completing his task in a two-hour, 48-minute slog.
He will meet Delbonis in the next stage after his compatriot saw off Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets, having saved a set point while down 6-5 in the tiebreak.
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