'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABhAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwcQAAIBBAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECBQADBCEHERIGYgEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQYRAAIBBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEAwACERITIqL/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ALw8RGQfGGT9t7y3bKj3ynwgyi0tz2AnWvzs1k68w2CoLRjhiN9PqlKpF1F5LrtoweoPo0JE41pnkNf/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The sixth day of main draw action at the 2023 ATP 250 Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech on Saturday will feature both semifinals. One seed will be in action.
On quarterfinal day on Friday, all but one of the last eight matches went the distance. Evans was the lone seed to emerge unscathed, but top seed Lorenzo Musetti and fourth seed Tallon Griekspoor bit the dust.
So, without further ado, here's a look at how both the semifinals in Marrakech could pan out on Saturday:
#1 Daniel Evans (Marrakech second seed) vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Second seed Daniel Evans takes on Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena as he seeks his first final of the season in Marrakech.
The World No. 30 Evans improved to 5-9 on the season by ending the inspired run of Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori in the last eight. Earlier, he had opened his campaign at the ATP 250 event with a straight-sets win over Alexei Popyrin.
The win over Popyrin snapped Evans' debilitating six-match losing streak since making the Australian Open third round. The 32-year-old has now won consecutive matches at a tournament for the second time this season.
Meanwhile, the 82nd-ranked Carballes Baena saw off the fourth-seed Tallon Griekspoor in three sets to improve to 7-8 in 2023. He had opened his campaign against fifth seed Maxime Cressy before downing qualifier Dimitar Kuzmanov.
This is a first-time matchup, but expect the in-form Spaniard to take this one.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in three sets
#2 Alexandre Muller vs Pavel Kotov
In an all-unseeded last-four clash in Marrakech, Alexandre Muller will take on Pavel Kotov for a place in the final.
The 126th-ranked Muller upset top seed Lorenzo Musetti in three sets to improve to an impressive 5-1 on the season. Earlier, the 26-year-old Frenchman beat sixth-seed Richard Gasquet and Francesco Passaro to reach the last eight.
Muller's two other wins this year have come in Doha, where he lost in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Andy Murray for his only defeat in 2023.
Meanwhile, World No. 114 Kotov is now 4-3 on the season after beating Christopher O'Connell in a third-set tie-break. Earlier, the 24-year-old Russian beat Pedro Martinez and Benjamin Bonzi without dropping a set.
The two players have never met before on the ATP Tour, but expect the in-form Miller to reign supreme against his Russian opponent and reach his first career singles final.
Prediction: Muller in three sets
