Great Britain's Dan Evans advanced to the semi-finals of the Canadian Open on Friday night, but Jack Draper's memorable run came to an end.
Evans had already got the better of Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev before meeting the USA's Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals, but the American started on the front foot.
Paul eased to a 6-1 first-set victory before Evans came storming back to force a third set, as the American continued to play some delicate shots at the net and work Evans all across the court.
However, the world number 39 remained defiant, managing to save six break points and find himself on match point on the Paul serve, but the American saved it with a forehand smash after a stunning rally.
Evans could only applaud his counterpart's efforts before being forced to serve out the match, and he did so as Paul's backhand return landed just wide of the sideline for a 1-6 6-3 6-4 victory.
"You never know what's going to happen. It was an amazing match, amazing atmosphere. I played on the court before. In the day it was amazing, but at night, there's something about playing sport at night, it's extra special," Evans told reporters in his post-match press conference.
"When I got ahead I really took it to Tommy and that's been sort of my way throughout this week so far, and I went about it in a good way, I was fired up and I thought it was a good battle between me and Tommy."
© Reuters
In only his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, Evans will take on Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who ended the hot streak of British qualifier Draper in the quarter-finals.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils had both fallen to Draper's superiority in the earlier rounds, and the 20-year-old superbly managed to stave off six break points in his opening two service games.
Carreno Busta eventually found the breakthrough before Draper hit back to force a tie-break in the first set, which he went 3-1 ahead in before the Spaniard ultimately got over the line.
The second set was a much more straightforward affair for Carreno Busta, who broke Draper twice more - despite the Brit posting seven aces - and cancelled out another break point from the man 11 years his junior.
A long backhand from Draper saw Carreno Busta advance to the final four courtesy of a 7-6 [4] 6-1 success, and the other men's semi-final will be contested by Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz.
Eighth seed Hurkacz brought Nick Kyrgios's winning streak to an end in a marathon three-set battle, which ended 7-6 [4] 6-7 [5] 6-1 in the Pole's favour on centre court, while Norway's Ruud ended Felix Auger-Aliassime's hopes of a Masters 1000 title in front of the home crowd, winning 6-1 6-2 on the night.
In the women's quarter-finals, Coco Gauff could not set up an all-American battle with Jessica Pegula after going down in straight sets to Simona Halep, while Karolina Pliskova and Beatriz Haddad Maia will do battle in the other semi-final.
Ben Knapton
