Adelaide International 2022: France’s Arthur Rinderknech defeats countryman Corentin Moutet to make maiden ATP final

Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech continues to take the ATP Tour by storm, reaching the Adelaide International Two final

Arthur Rinderknech thanks the Adelaide crowd after he cruised into his first ATP Tour singles final on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

A Frenchman preparing to break into the top 50 for the first time has booked the first Adelaide International Two final berth.

Arthur Rinderknech had never even been among the world’s top 300 until last season – after four years of college tennis at Texas A&M University – but will be France’s third-highest-ranked player next week.

The 26-year-old breezed past countryman and qualifier Corentin Moutet in a dominant 6-1 6-3 semi-final result, where he hit six aces and lost only three points on his first serve.

There were the usual emotional fireworks from Moutet but Rinderknech remained focused after anticipating his compatriot would “go a little bit crazy” if he was trailing in the match.

Rinderknech next plays the winner of Friday night’s other semi-final between South Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis and fourth-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic.

Arthur Rinderknech produced a dominant performance in his Adelaide semi-final victory. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a great achievement – I’m really happy to be in the final,” Rinderknech said.

“It’s a new step again. I made the semi-final in Kitzbuhel last summer and now the final here for my first tournament of the year. I’m just looking forward to what’s next.”

This is Rinderknech’s first time in the country after last year’s Australian Open men’s qualifying, which he made the final round of, was held in Doha, Qatar.

A maiden singles title ahead of next week’s Australian Open would be the ideal preparation after he also competed in the ATP Cup, where he beat Australia’s James Duckworth.

That experience with Duckworth could come in handy if he does meet Kokkinakis on Saturday.

Corentin Moutet lost his all-French semi-final in Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

“Both of them are such great players. Of course, Cilic has a lot more experience than Thanasi and me definitely. He’s the favourite,” Rinderknech said.

“Now he’s going to play against a young and talented player, an Australian, with the home crowd.

“Of course, it’s going to be a hard match. We’ll see who I play against tomorrow and I’m just going to get ready for this match.”

The first women’s semi-final saw American Alison Riske advance to the final without hitting a ball, when fourth seed Tamara Zidansek pulled out with a left abdominal injury.

Coco Gauff and Madison Keys will battle it out on Friday night to play in what is guaranteed to be an all-American final.