Paris: Serbian qualifier Filip Krajinovic will take on American Jack Sock in the Paris Masters final today, after a stunning 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5) victory over John Isner in yesterday’s semis.
The world number 77, who had only won one match at Masters level before this week, will play his maiden ATP final against fellow 25-year-old Sock, who beat French wildcard Julien Benneteau 7-5, 6-2.
Sock can snatch the eighth and last place for the World Tour Finals in London later this month from Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta if he wins the title.
Krajinovic is looking to become the first qualifier to win a Masters event since Albert Portas in Hamburg in 2001. Krajinovic also ended the Isner’s World Tour Finals bid.
Krajinovic dug deep to come through a deciding-set tie-break against the big-serving Isner, who struck 31 aces.
The Serb reached the last four after world number one Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament before their quarter-final on Friday with a right knee injury.
The 25-year-old saved three break points in his opening service game and grew into the contest from then on, breaking Isner in game five.
It was only the third time the world number 14 had dropped his serve in the tournament, and Krajinovic closed out the first set with a confident hold to love.
Krajinovic had only won two matches at Grand Slam or Masters tournaments in his career before this week, but he has claimed five second-tier Challenger titles in 2017 to return to the world’s top 100 after struggling with injuries in recent years.
Isner, who like Sock was looking to become the first American to win a Masters title since former world number one Andy Roddick in Miami seven years ago, solidified his serve at the start of the second set.
Krajinovic looked to be the fitter player, though, having had a day off due to Nadal’s withdrawal, while Isner had been taken to a deciding set in all of his three previous matches.
But the giant American found a second wind in a second-set tie-break, reeling off the first five points in a row. He closed it out with two massive aces to take his tally for the match to 16.