ATP Kitzbuhel, Austria

Top 5 Photos, August 2: Thiem stars at home; Tsitsipas rolls in D.C.

The Austrian once again finds himself thriving on clay after defeating Lorenzo Sonego to reach the final in Kitzbuhel.

By Jordaan SanfordPublished August 02, 2019

Hard-court action continued in San Jose and Washington D.C. on Friday, while a Top 5 star continued to leave his mark on clay. These are the Top 5 photos from a busy day of play.

1. World No. 4 Dominic Thiem is enjoying more clay-court action this week in Kitzbuhel. The hometown favorite is through to his 22nd ATP final after the Austrian dismissed Lorenzo Sonego, 6-3, 7-6 (6). Thiem will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who triumphed last weekend in Gstaad, for the trophy on Saturday.

Austria's Dominic Thiem returns the ball to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego during their ATP General Open semi-final Tennis match in Kitzbuehel, Austria on August 2, 2019. (Photo by Johann GRODER / various sources / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read JOHANN GRODER/AFP/Getty Images) — © AFP/Getty Images

2. It looked like Carla Suarez Navarro might capture her first win over No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in San Jose when she claimed the first set. However, Sabalenka switched to a new level of play and rallied past the Spaniard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the San Jose semifinals. The world No. 10 will either meet American qualifier Kristie Ahn or No. 5 seed Donna Vekic for a spot in the final.

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after winning a game against Carla Suárez Navarro, of Spain, during the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) — © Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

3. Stefanos Tsitsipas is still in the running for his third ATP tour of the year after prevailing over France's Benoit Paire, 7-5, 6-0, in his tenth quarterfinal appearance of the season. The No. 1 seed will battle the winner of Nick Kyrgios and Norbert Gombos in Saturday evening's semifinals.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, reaches to hit a forehand during a match in the Citi Open tennis tournament against Benoit Paire, of France, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) — © Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

4. Recent Wimbledon champion Simona Halep will play in the new Adelaide International WTA premier event ahead of the next year's Australian Open. Aspiring tennis players helped spell out Simona during a Tennis Australia media opportunity announcing the Romanian's commitment to the WTA Premier event, which will debut in January 2020.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Young tennis layers L-R Christina Bennett,1, Eliza Gauvin ,10,Jorja Liappas,11,Lily Jewell ,9, Sarah Mildren,11 and Isabella O'Reilly 11 with letters reading Simona for Simona Halep who is coming to play in the new Adelaide Mens and Womens tennis tournament with Tennis officials and Corey Wingard MP, SA Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing and SA Premier Steven Marshall during a Tennis Australia media opportunity at War Memorial Drive on August 02, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images) — © DANIEL KALISZ PHOTOGRAPHER

5. Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus were down match point against Jamie Murray and Andy Murray but the pair never gave up. The former Wimbledon finalists rallied their way to a 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) [10-7] victory to advance to the semifinals in Washington D.C. The No. 3 seeds have been in top form, capturing the title in Halle and returning to the Wimbledon semifinals. The tandem will take on Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo next.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 02: Michael Venus of New Zealand (L) and Raven Klaasen of Russia confer during their doubles match against Jamie Murray and Andy Murray of Great Britain during Day 5 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 02, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) — © RC