Tennis essentials for 16 October: Jodar into the semi-finals after his apology, Zverev minds his ankle, Djokovic to Basel

Saturday’s semi-final in Shanghai pairs Rafael Jodar with Daniil Medvedev, with Turin points on the line. In Wuhan, Sonay Kartal and Iga Swiatek play for a final spot this weekend: the draw moved on, and one controversy was settled.

Jodar comes back against Ruud and apologises

A set down, Rafael Jodar beat Casper Ruud (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) on Friday to reach his first Masters 1000 semi-final. He used the moment to apologise to the ball kid he snapped at in the previous round: “I should not have acted like that”, said the 20-year-old Spaniard, warned by the chair umpire for unsportsmanlike conduct. David Ferrer, Spain’s Davis Cup captain, sent his own warning: “It does not concern me, but I don’t like it.” (RMC Sport)

Medvedev waits, the Turin race tightens

Daniil Medvedev needed more than two hours to get past Tommy Paul (6-3, 1-6, 6-3). On Saturday he meets Jodar for the first time. The Russian, sixth in the race, and the Spaniard, 13th in the rankings, are fighting for a spot in Turin (15-22 November), where Jannik Sinner, out for the rest of the season, will not defend his title. On his Beijing disqualification on 5 October, when he sent a ball towards a spectator against Novak Djokovic, Medvedev would not comment: “I do not know if I can talk about it yet.” (L’Équipe)

Zverev: “The longer the match, the more it hurts”

The quarter-final lasted one hour and 18 minutes (6-4, 6-4 against Alex de Minaur), and Alexander Zverev still worries about his right ankle. “The longer the match lasts, the more my ankle suffers”, he said. Saturday’s semi-final against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will show whether the ankle holds up. (We Love Tennis)

Djokovic gets a Basel wild card

With the Saudi exhibition Six Kings Slam postponed, Novak Djokovic received a wild card for the ATP 500 in Basel (26 October-1 November), his first appearance at the indoor tournament in 15 years. The Serb, chasing a spot in the ATP Finals, will now play two events before the Paris Masters (2-8 November). (L’Équipe)

Kartal keeps climbing in Wuhan

Ranked 170th and playing on a protected ranking after a back stress fracture, Sonay Kartal beat Elina Svitolina (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) on Friday to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final. At 24, in her third tournament back, the Briton plays Ostapenko on Saturday for a place in the final. Our report retraces her run.

Swiatek, the only top 20 left

Iga Swiatek dropped only three games to Ann Li (6-4, 6-1) in the Wuhan quarter-finals. The only top 20 player still standing, the Pole starts her semi-final as the big favourite; a title on Sunday would bring her closer to a Masters spot. (L’Équipe)

Badosa splits from Pol Toledo

Paula Badosa has ended four years with coach Pol Toledo. A former world number 2 now ranked 58th after an injury-hit season, the Spaniard dismissed rumours of a lack of professionalism from her coach: “All this information is wrong.” (We Love Tennis)