FOUR of the top six players at the Marrakech Open are through to the semi-finals after some interesting results in today’s action. The quarter finals took place with top two seeds, Alexander Zverev and Fabio Fognini getting through, as did fifth seed, Filip Krajniovic and sixth seed, Guido Pella.

The only match to go to three sets was Zverev’s triumph over the red-hot Kyle Edmund. It was arguably the strangest match of the tournament though, with the loser of each set combining a total of two games. The German world number seven was stunned by the Brit’s tenacity and shotmaking in the opening set with Edmund getting up a whopping 6-1 to leave the crowd amazed. The script got back on track after that though, and in a big way as Zverev went straight from zero to 100 as he bulldozed his way to victory. Dropping just one game over the next two sets, Zverev ran away with a 1-6 6-1 6-0 victory.

The tournament favourite now takes on world number 29 and fifth seed, Krajinovic. The Serbian is eyeing off a top 20 spot with some luck here, and a win in the semi-finals would certainly catapult him into the top 25. In his quarter final clash against Federico Delbonis he looked good, getting the chocolates 7-5 6-3. Delbonis had done well in his opening two rounds, but Krajinovic’s ability on clay was on display as he took out the 87th ranked Argentinian in straight sets.

Up the other end of the draw, Fognini was too strong for seventh seed Croatian, Marin Cilic. The world number 11 is one of many looking at a possible top 10 spot and being a strong clay courter, could enter Roland Garros with an ideal top eight seed. It is so far, so good for the Italian firebrand who defeated Cilic 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 26 minutes. He now faces sixth seed, Pella for a spot in the final.

The Argentinian defeated his higher ranked opponent – the only player to do so in the quarter finals – in fourth seed, Pablo Carreno Busta. Having to fight throughout the hour-and-50-minute clash, he broke late in the first set, then took out a crucial few points in the second set tiebreaker to prove the difference. He only won 10 more points than his opponent, but it was enough for the spot.

In tomorrow’s semi-finals, Fognini faces Pella in the opening game before Zverev and Krajinovic do battle in the second clash of the day.

QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated [8] Kyle Edmund (GBR) 1-6 6-1 6-0
[2] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated [7] Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3 6-4
[6] Guido Pella (ARG) defeated [4] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-4 7-6
[5] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated Federico Delbonis (ARG) 7-5 6-3