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You are here: Tennis ATP / WTA Tour Saturday Tennis Wrap: Monfils, Gonzalez beaten, Cilic through to Zagreb final

Saturday Tennis Wrap: Monfils, Gonzalez beaten, Cilic through to Zagreb final

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SA Tennis Open, Johannesburg

28-year old Feliciano Lopez Diaz-Guerra won his maiden ATP Tour title in the winter of 2004. Since then, the Spanish left-hander famous for his exploits in the Davis Cup has made the trip to a tournament finale on Sunday on three occasions, and has fallen at the final hurdle on each visit. Lopez will get an opportunity to set the record straight when he takes on World No. 100 Stephane Robert who at the beautiful young age of 29, will be making his first ever Tour final appearance.

gael_monfils.jpgIt was a day of upsets at the SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg, with top seed Gael Monfils beaten courtesy of a final set tiebreak by Lopez, and Robert knocking out the no.2 seed David Ferrer in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Monfils, who struggled towards the end of the match with an injury to his left knee, won the first set 6-3, but dropped serve twice in the second en route to losing it 6-1. The final set saw Monfils hang on to his serve, while completely failing to make an impression on his opponent's. The match finally headed into a deciding tiebreak, which the Spaniard ran away with 7-1.

Singles - Semi-finals
[3] F Lopez (ESP) d [1] G Monfils (FRA) 36 61 76(1)
[8] S Robert (FRA) d [2] D Ferrer (ESP) 75 64

 

PBZ Zagreb Indoors, Croatia

Super Marin continued his fantastic start to 2010, to take his win tally this year to 14-1, his only loss coming in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Top seed Cilic was tested by Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the first set, fighting back from a break down to take the opening set in the tiebreak. The crowd favourite broke Melzer's serve in the opening game of the second set, and then coasted through the rest of it to complete the win.

Cilic will meet unseeded German Michael Berrer in the final on Sunday. 29-year old Berrer fought past compatriot Philipp Petzschner in two tight sets 7-6 (6), 7-5 to enter his first ever ATP Tour final.

Singles - Semi-finals
[1] M Cilic (CRO) d [3] J Melzer (AUT) 76(5) 64
M Berrer (GER) d P Petzschner (GER) 76(6) 75


Movistar Open, Santiago, Chile

Brazilian 3rd seed Thomaz Belluci produced a dramatic comeback in his semi-final with top seed and four time champion Fernando Gonzalez to deny the home town hero a chance to chase for a record fifth Movistar Open title. The Chilean led Bellucci by a set and a break before the Brazilian rattled off four games in a row to draw at a set apiece.

From that point on Bellucci was running rampant, and despite some stern defence by Gonzalez, the third seed finally broke serve in the 8th game for a 5-3 lead. He promptly served out the match to book a place in Sunday's final.

Standing in Bellucci's way is second seed Juan Monaco. The Argentine, looking to make up for his disappointment of being unable to compete in his previous final here in 2008 made quick work of young Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza. The 21-year old who was competing in a main draw of an ATP Tour event for the first time in his career saw his dream run come to an end at the hands of the experienced Monaco.

Singles - Semi-finals
[3] T Bellucci (BRA) d [1] F Gonzalez (CHI) 36 64 63
[2] J Monaco (ARG) d [Q] J Souza (BRA) 61 64

File Photograph Copyright: Melodie Mesiano

Federer Masterclass Djokovic signs some autographs Djokovic on the run Petzschner strokes it down the line Federer keeping his eye on the ball Djokovic wins title Gasquet whips one Gulbis interesting grip Federer with the fans Djokovic serves