Jannik Sinner moved to inside two wins of capturing his sixth tour-level title on Friday when he moved previous Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-2 on the Open Sud de France – Montpellier.

The 21-year-old Italian, who had by no means been past the primary spherical in his two earlier appearances on the ATP 250, overpowered his countryman all through their one-hour, 34-minute encounter. Sinner stepped contained in the baseline to push Sonego again, hitting an array of winners off each wings to enhance his tour-level report in opposition to Italians to 6-0.

“I know him very well,” Sinner stated about Sonego. “Playing Davis Cup together. He is a very nice person, very humble. We practised together at the beginning of the tournament, so it was bad luck to play already in the quarter-finals but I am very happy to be here.”

The second seed is now 7-2 on the season, having reached the quarter-finals in Adelaide and the fourth spherical on the Australian Open. Sinner will face #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils within the semi-finals on Saturday.

“I have seen him [Fils] play here at this tournament,” Sinner stated. “He is very strong physically already. He understands the game very well. He started off the year very well, so it is going to be an interesting match for sure.”

Earlier, Fils continued his dream run when he defeated countryman Quentin Halys 7-6(3), 6-3. The 18-year-old is the youngest Frenchman to achieve a tour-level semi-final since Richard Gasquet in Metz in 2004.

Fils, who has but to drop a set on the ATP 250, gained 82 per cent (37/45) of his first-serve factors and saved the one break level he confronted to advance after 83 minutes. With his victory, the 18-year-old has rose to No. 117 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Halys was aiming to achieve his first tour-level semi-final, having additionally superior to the quarter-finals in Auckland final month.