With the local women out of the event, it’s up to Robby Ginepri to keep the hometown mesmerized. Alison Riske and Madison Keys kick it off at 1:00 pm today at Racquet Club of the South. Riske didn’t have much competition yesterday while Keys dug down in three grueling sets for her victory. Today, we’ll know if Riske’s game is that good, since Keys will hardly be a walkover. These matches are difficult to predict. The easy way out is Vandeweghe and Keys. So let’s go for broke, take the points and look for Riske and Brodsky in the final.
We’ll also know if yesterday was a fluke for Rhyne Williams and Jesse Levine, who greatly outperformed their quarterfinal competitors. But Denis Kudla advanced the hard way, and in reality, he was not on top form. Jack Sock had beaten him in the previous four matches. Even so, he tenaciously battled Sock in the 2nd set and blew him out in the tiebreak. Kudla knows he is lucky to be in the semifinals of this event, and it would be surprising if he were to let down today.
As far as Robby Ginepri, you’ve got to love his chances even more. His fitness level is extraordinarily high, and he said yesterday that he knows “the window is closing”. This might be the beginning of the exciting conclusion to his pro playing career.
Against all odds, look for Kudla to advance in three. Not surprisingly, expect Ginepri in straight sets.
Friday’s Quarterfinal Scores
MEN
No. 8 Rhyne Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) def.No. 1 Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
No. 2 Jesse Levine (Boca Raton, Fla.) def. No. 7 Daniel Kosakowski (Downey, Calif.), 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 Denis Kudla (Arlington,Va.) def. No. 6 Jack Sock (Lincoln, Neb.),3-6, 7-6 (4), 5-4, ret.
No. 4 Robby Ginepri (Kennesaw, Ga.) def. No. 5Steve Johnson (Orange, Calif.), 7-6 (4), 6-0
WOMEN
No. 1 Coco Vandeweghe (Newport Beach, Calif.)def. No. 8 Taylor Townsend (Stockbridge, Ga.),6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Gail Brodsky (Brooklyn,N.Y.) def. No. 4 Melanie Oudin (Marietta, Ga.),6-4, 4-6, 6-4
No. 6 MadisonKeys (Boca Raton, Fla.)def. No. 3 Jamie Hampton (Auburn, Ala.), 3-6, 6-4, 9-7
No. 2 Alison Riske (McMurray,Pa.) def. No. 7 Grace Min (Duluth, Ga.),6-0, 6-0
Saturday’s Semifinal schedule
Beginning at 1p.m. on Court 2
Alison Riske vs. Madison Keys
Followed by Denis Kudla vs. Jesse Levine
Beginning at 2p.m. on Stadium Court
Coco Vandeweghe vs. Gail Brodsky
Followed by Robby Ginepri vs. Rhyne Williams
Tennis Atlantic 
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