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The sixth day of action at the 2023 Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday (February 25) will feature both semifinals.
The first two quarterfinals on Wednesday were three-set affairs, with Bernabe Zapata Miralles beating compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Cameron Norrie surviving the distance against Hugo Dellien.
In the two other last-eight clashes, top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Nicolas Jarry emerged triumphant in straight sets, respectively seeing off Dusan Lajovic and Sebastian Baez.
Without further ado, here's a look at how the two semifinals at the Rio Open could pan out:
#1 Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs Cameron Norrie
Bernabe Zapata Miralles will take on second seed Cameron Norrie for a place in the Rio Open semifinals.
The 63rd-ranked Zapata Miralles improved to a 7-4 win-loss record for the year following a trio of wins at the ATP 500 event this week. The Spaniard kicked off his Rio campaign with a straight-set win over compatriot Jaume Munar. Zapata Miralles then needed three sets to see off fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo and seventh seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the next two rounds.
Meanwhile, World No. 13 Norrie survived a scare against Hugo Dellien to improve to an impressive 16-3 win-loss record in 2023. The left-hander - who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Argentina Open final last week - dropped his only set in three matches this week against Dellien.
The two players haven't met before, but with Norrie in the kind of form he's in, it's difficult to predict anything but a victory for the second seed.
Prediction: Norrie to win in straight sets
#2 Carlos Alcaraz (Defending Rio Open champion) vs Nicolas Jarry
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will take on qualifier Nicolas Jarry in the second semifinal at the Rio Open.
The defending champion, ranked second in the world, saw off Lajovic in straight sets to extend his perfect start to the year to 7-0, having won the Argentina Open last week. Earlier in the tournament, Alcaraz beat Mateus Alves in his opener before surviving a three-setter against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini.
Meanwhile, the 139th-ranked Jarry produced his third straight straight-sets win of the week to improve to 5-1 in 2023 and book a clash with the top seed. He had beaten Lorenzo Musetti and Pedro Martinez earlier in the week.
The two players haven't met before, but Alcaraz should see off his Chilean opponent without much trouble as he seeks back-to-back Rio titles.
Prediction: Alcaraz to win in straight sets
