De Minaur against Tiafoe and Sinner versus Kecmanovic set for ATP Next Gen Semi-Finals

The main semi-final sees Alex de Minaur face off against Frances Tiafoe. De Minaur has form in this part of the tournament having previously reached the final while Tiafoe failed to make it out of the group last time around.

The Aussie finished the group unbeaten for the second consecutive year on Thursday defeating Caspur Ruud 4-1, 4-0, 4-2; he will look to defeat his close friend Tiafoe for the second time in their Head 2 Head later today.

“I get up for any sort of match any time I step out on court. These conditions make it a bit tougher in the sense that things can change directions really quickly, so I feel like you've got to be constantly focused. That's something that helps me, in a way, to stay in the moment,” De Minaur said.

“A lot of work has been done for me to achieve that, but it's a work in progress and I'm happy to be through to the semi-finals.”

Tiafoe suffered an early stumble against Jannik Sinner losing 4-3, 2-4, 2-4, 2-4 but from there defeated Ugo Humbert (4-2, 4-3, 3-4, 4-1) and then finally with more ease Mikael Ymer 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 in a win or bust match for the American.

'Big Foe' spoke afterwards and said that he loves being in Milan and just is pleased to be in the semi-finals.

“I just like being in Milan and playing in Milan. Fans are unbelievable here. They really get behind me. I feel like I play great tennis here. I'm just happy to be in the semis,” Tiafoe said.

In the second semi-final, Jannik Sinner will take on Miomir Kecmanovic. The Italian ace suffered a loss to Ugo Humbert on Thursday but had already claimed his spot in the latter stages.

He is the first Italian to make the semi-finals and he will now face the Serbian who came through defeating Miomir Kecmanovic who defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Thursday.

“I watched his matches,” Kecmanovic said about Sinner. “It's definitely going to be tough playing against everybody here in the crowd, but I have been playing good. I'm feeling good.”