Bengaluru Open: Mochizuki ends Barton’s dream run, McCabe stuns Mejia to reach semis

Bengaluru: Seventh seed Shintaro Mochizuki ended Hynek Barton’s dream run at the 2025 Bengaluru Open by knocking out the Czech qualifier from the singles event at the KSLTA Tennis Stadium here on Friday. The 2019 junior Wimbledon Champion beat Barton 7-6(5), 6-3 to advance to the semifinals, where he will play Australian James McCabe.

Playing at the Centre Court, Mochizuki flew off the blocks to sweep the opening game of the first set without losing a point. The rising Japanese star then procured two breakpoints in the second game, but Barton fought back for a hold.

Thereon, the intensity grew as the match progressed, and eventually, Mochizuki grabbed the opening set via a tie-breaker in the ATP Challenger 125 tournament with a prize pool of USD 200,000 organised by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA). It currently holds the distinction of being India’s biggest international tennis event. The champion of this hard-court tournament will earn 125 valuable ATP ranking points.

Mochizuki broke Barton’s serve in the very first game of the second set, before defending two breakpoints in the next and another in game four. Having provided himself with a sturdy platform, the seventh seed proceeded to wrap up the victory in an hour and 36 minutes.

Earlier, the 21-year-old McCabe came from a set down to defeat Colombia’s Nicolas Mejia 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a quarterfinal match that lasted two hours and 22 minutes. Having lost the first set, McCabe fought back in the second, exchanging breaks with his opponent in games six and seven before achieving the decisive advantage in the 10th game. Wind in his sails, the youngster saved three breakpoints in the first game of the decider before breaking Mejia in game six and cruising to victory.

Alongside Mochizuki and McCabe, Great Britain’s Billy Harris also booked his berth in the DafaNews Bengaluru Open semifinals after a thrilling three-setter win over second seed Tristan Schoolkate. A lucky loser from qualifying, Harris took the first set 6-2 before Schoolkate secured the second, cancelling his advantage. Having conceded his serve in the first game of the decider, Harris fought back by breaking Schoolkate in game six before taking the decisive 12th game for a 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 victory. IANS

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