Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, Wednesday’s unexpected winner over Casper Ruud (7e ATP ranking) in the second round of the ATP 250 tournament in Metz, continued his progress on Thursday, defeating compatriot Quentin Halys in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7-1). In the semi-finals, he will meet the winner of the match scheduled for the evening between American Alex Michelsen and China’s Bu Yunchaokete.

A former French number one, Bonzi has fallen back to 124th in the world rankings following a wrist injury. Before arriving in Metz, he had lost six of as many matches on the main tour this season, but had already bounced back with seventeen wins from eighteen matches in Challengers tournaments, the second tier.

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It’s been an incredible end to the season for me.

Benjamin Bonzi

Against Halys (84th), Nîmes’ Bonzi showed no mercy. After dominating the first set 6-3, he had two match points on his opponent’s serve at 6-5 in the second. However, Halys pulled off the tie-break, where Bonzi scored the first six points consecutively, before concluding at 7-1. “It feels goodsaid Bonzi in English on the court after the match. It’s an incredible end to the season for me, I’m playing really well, everything’s turning in my favor and a semifinal on the big circuit, I’ve been waiting a long time for that.”