Qualifiers Damm, Droguet reach first ATP SFs in Montpellier
Martin Damm and Titouan Droguet both used big-serving performances to advance to their first tour-level semi-finals with milestone wins Friday at the Open Occitanie. Both qualifiers at the ATP 250 in Montpellier, American Damm beat Luca Nardi 6-3, 7-6(8) before home hope Droguet upset fourth seed Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(5), 7-6(1).
The 22-year-old Damm, who saved a match point in qualifying, beat former Top 10 stars Hubert Hurkacz and Roberto Bautista Agut in the main draw to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final. Against Nardi, he fired 16 aces and saved the only break point he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
“For sure it was a bit nerve-wracking today, a lot on the line,” said Damm, who has climbed 31 places to No. 129 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week. “I knew that if we went three sets, then maybe it would get a little bit tricky for me. I’m happy that I’m tall and I have a pretty good serve, so thanks to my parents!”
He will next meet Adrian Mannarino after the 37-year-old ended the run of French qualifier Arthur Gea with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Mannarino, up 15 spots to No. 55 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, is into his 26th tour-level semi-final and his first semi-final since Dallas in February 2024.
Droguet also used a stellar serving performance to break new ground at tour-level, blasting 21 aces and never facing a break point against Griekspoor. The win against the No. 29 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is Droguet’s second Top 50 victory, with his first coming against Lorenzo Musetti in five sets at the 2023 US Open.
“I’m not used to playing on big courts like this. So I’m trying to not look up there, looking only at the court and my team, to stay focused,” the Frenchman said after his victory on Court Patrice Dominguez.
[ATP APP]The 24-year-old Frenchman will hope for continued crowd support when he takes on top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in Saturday’s semi-finals. Auger-Aliassime followed his opening win against Stan Wawrinka with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against sixth seed Arthur Fils on Friday. Like Droguet, he did not face a break point.
Droguet and Auger-Aliassime are set for their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting on Saturday, though the Frenchman revealed he lost a 6-0 practice set to the top seed last season.
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