WATCH the Halle Open LIVE in Australia on beIN SPORTS | Subscribe here and take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL

It will be the third ATP Tour semi-final of the season for the 29-year-old, who is guaranteed to return to the world's top 10 on Monday after spending six weeks as No.11.

Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov will contest the second semi-final.

Bublik, who stunned world No.1 and 2024 champion Jannik Sinner in the second round, eased past No.7 seed Tomas Machac 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 and was delighted to back up the biggest win of his career with another victory.

“I didn’t have a really good night of sleep [after the Sinner win],” Bublik said.

“I tried to keep focused, but there are thoughts and everything on social media, receiving a lot of messages. But I’m really happy I was in control of the match [against Machac]. I lost it a bit at the end of the first set. He broke my serve, but I was solid enough to take the tiebreak.”

Bublik will aim to sink a seeded opponent for the third consecutive day when he takes on No.8 seed Khachanov, who beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3 6-2 to earn his place in the last four.