The ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open has delivered unprecedented chaos this week, with none of the top eight seeds surviving to the quarterfinals, leaving ninth seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard as the highest-ranked semifinalist. After Thursday's quarterfinal battles, four players emerged to contest Friday's semifinals in the final tune-up event before the US Open. Sebastian Korda faces surprise package Marton Fucsovics, while Mpetshi Perricard takes on the winner of the suspended Botic Van De Zandschulp versus Bu Yunchaokete encounter.
Korda vs. Fucsovics
Sebastian Korda delivered an emphatic statement in his quarterfinal demolition of Miomir Kecmanovic, cruising to a 6-1, 6-4 victory that showcased his best form since returning from a three-month injury layoff. The 11th-seeded American unleashed 14, dominating with 29 winners to Kecmanovic's 13. His 79% first-serve points won and clinical break point conversion demonstrated the timing and rhythm that had been slightly off in earlier rounds. The world number 45's aggressive returning and ability to take the ball early completely neutralized Kecmanovic's consistent baseline game. This marks Korda's first semifinal since Adelaide in January, where he fell to Novak Djokovic after defeating this same Kecmanovic in their previous meeting.
Marton Fucsovics has emerged as the tournament's giant killer, stringing together three consecutive upsets over seeded opponents with his 7-5, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over 12th seed Jaume Munar. The 94th-ranked Hungarian converted 6 of 9 break points while winning an impressive 42% of first-serve return points and 64% on second serves. His 35-16 season record includes a remarkable 13-3 mark on hard courts in 2025, though most victories came at challenger level before this breakthrough week. Against Munar, Fucsovics thrived with time on his shots, using his forehand to dictate rallies and create angles that troubled the Spaniard throughout. The 33-year-old veteran's path through the draw reads like a who's who of seeds - Tallon Griekspoor, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Munar all fell to his powerful baseline game.
The head-to-head stands at 1-1, with Korda winning their most recent encounter 6-3, 7-6 in the Adelaide semifinals earlier this year. Korda's superior serving and current form make him a clear favorite, but Fucsovics has proven all week that rankings mean nothing when he finds his range from the baseline. The Hungarian's confidence is sky-high after his giant-killing run, while Korda seeks to capitalize on home support as the last American standing. With Korda's explosive game clicking and his movement finally sharp after the injury layoff, he should have enough firepower to halt Fucsovics's remarkable run in straight sets.
Mpetshi Perricard vs. Van de Zandschulp/Bu
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard justified his status as the highest remaining seed with a commanding 7-6(8), 6-2 victory over Hamad Medjedovic in Thursday's quarterfinals. This match was expected to be a serve hitting fest from both and and it not disappointed, with 15 aces fired by the Frenchman and 13 by his opponent. After a tight first set that required saving set points in the tiebreak, Mpetshi Perricard ran away with the second set, breaking twice while never facing a break point on his own serve. The world number 39 has recorded the streak of 3 match wins in a row after losing 6 out of 7 latest matches before Winston-Salem, suggesting his confidence and timing have returned at the perfect moment before the US Open. His 16-17 season record exposes his inconsistency but masks the enormous potential in his game - when his serve is clicking and his groundstrokes find their range, he becomes nearly unplayable on fast hard courts.
The second semifinal opponent remained undecided as rain suspended the quarterfinal between Botic van de Zandschulp and Bu Yunchaokete with the Dutchman leading 6-3, 4-3. Van de Zandschulp has been the comeback king of the tournament, recovering from a 0-6 first set against Sebastian Baez to win 6-1, 6-4, following his earlier turnaround from 2-6 down against Adam Walton. The world number 92 brings an impressive 10-6 hard court record in 2025 and valuable experience from his 2022 semifinal run here. His ability to absorb pace and redirect with depth has troubled opponents all week, while his improved serving statistics - 75% first-serve points won throughout the tournament - provide a solid foundation for his baseline game.
Bu Yunchaokete produced the tournament's biggest shock by dismantling top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2 in the first round, presenting an uncomfortable style that completely neutralized the Greek's attacking game. The world number 76 followed up with straight-set victories over Mariano Navone (6-4, 6-4) in the third round, maintaining remarkable consistency from the baseline. This marks the first time in 2025 that Bu has won three matches at ATP level, having previously reached the Turin Challenger final on clay. His ability to absorb pace and redirect with interest, combined with exceptional court coverage, makes him a tricky opponent for any aggressive player.
Mpetshi Perricard has faced neither Van de Zandschulp nor Bu has faced the Frenchman before. The winner of the suspended quarterfinal will need to quickly refocus for the challenge of facing one of the tour's biggest servers. Mpetshi Perricard's 27 winners and eight aces against Alexandre Muller in the third round showcased his improved baseline play to complement the massive serve. His path to a first ATP final since Brisbane in January looks promising, though both potential opponents have shown they can handle power players this week.