Marcos Giron Upsets No. 8 Seed Felix Auger-Aliassime at Japan Open to Reach First ATP 500 Semifinal

Marcos Giron continues his impressive run in Japan…

The 30-year-old Spanish American professional tennis player pulled off an upset against eighth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, defeating the Canadian tennis player 6-1, 6-4 triumph o advance to the semifinals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Marcos GironGiron, currently ranked No. 79 in the world, is a qualifier for the tournament.

Giron rode a lightning-fast start in both sets to an 81-minute win against Auger-Aliassime, who had shown signs of a return to form by reaching his first tour-level quarterfinal since May.

Yet he could not match Giron’s consistency in blustery conditions inside Ariake Coliseum. He led 4-0 in the first set and 3-0 in the second, ultimately converting five of eight break points he earned to charge into his maiden ATP 500 semifinal.

“I’m really happy with today’s performance,” said Giron, who held his nerve after losing four of five games in the middle of the second set. “Felix is obviously a phenomenal player, been Top 10 in the world, won a lot of titles. He’s beaten me down pretty good the last few times we played, so coming in today I knew I had to play well and I had to play aggressive.

“It is windy, but I started off really well. In the second set I went up a break and it cooled off, got even windier, and it got a little tricky. He raised his level, but we are professional tennis players, we do this for a living, and we’ve got to be ready for anything that comes our way.”

Giron has previously upset Norwegian Casper Ruud, the second seed, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to move into the quarterfinals.

He’ll next face fellow American Ben Shelton in the semifinals on Saturday.

Granollers Outlasts David Ferrer to Advance at the Japan Open

Marcel Granollers is starting his Japanese run with a bullet

The 28-year-ol Spanish tennis player fought back from a set down to defeat his compatriot David Ferrer, the tournament’s second seed, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday and advance to the second round of the Japan Open.

Marcel Granollers

Granollers converted four of nine break points at Ariake Coliseum and will next face Steve Johnson of the United States.

The early loss could dent Ferrer’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP finals in London in November. The top eight players qualify and Ferrer is currently ranked seventh.

“I lost my focus in the second set,” said Ferrer, who recently split with coach Jose Francisco Altur. “I have not been playing well recently and have got on a bad run of results.”