Yuki enters semis of Aus Open play-off tournament

Yuki Bhambri inched closer to a wild entry in the Australian Open, not only in singles but also doubles, after easy victories in the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off tournament, in Shenzhen, China, on Friday.

The second seed Indian first demolished unranked Chinese Zhicheng Zhu 6-2, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the singles competition at the Luohu Tennis Club.

Ranked 204, Yuki broke Zhicheng twice in the opening set. He dropped serve in the second set but did not let the Chinese win a single game on his own serve thereafter.

He now faces world No 205 and third seed Di Wu for a place in the final.

Di Wu, who was ranked 161 last May, dispatched compatriot and wild card Zhe Li 6-3, 6-3 in his quarter-final match.

Yuki later combined with New Zealand's Michael Venus to reach the doubles final.

The second seeded pair routed third seeds Chieh-Fu Wang and Jimmy Wang 6-2, 6-0 in 40 minutes.

They will now fight it out with fourth seeds Mao-Xin Gong and Zhe Li, who knocked out top seeds Hsin Han Lee and Hsien Yin Peng in the other semi-final. 

Image: Yuki Bhambri

Photograph: Getty Images