Thomaz Bellucci shocked an underpar Bernard Tomic 6-2 6-2 to advance to the semifinals in China.
The Brazilian started the strongest as he broke Tomic in the third game to lead 2-1. Bellucci then gathered momentum and confidence as he broke again in the fifth game to lead 4-1. He won all 14 of his first serve points as he surged to win the first set 6-2.
Despite Tomic’s best efforts it wasn’t his day as he was broken for a third time in the match and his superior opponent was up a break already at 2-1. Bellucci used his power game to his advantage as he broke for a fourth time and served the match out to seal a 6-2 6-2 victory in 61 minutes. Tomic saw his composed performance from yesterday dashed today as he just wasn’t good enough.
Bellucci will now play his first semifinal since February against top seed and defending champion Tomas Berdych. The world number seven defeated compatriot Jiri Vesely 7-6(1) 3-6 6-2. Berdych broke four times as he served down 10 aces on his way to victory. He now sits 490 points behind Rafael Nadal in the race to London, who is currently eighth.
However Berdych claimed that it was a tough match today, ” You don’t play at your best level every day.” He said. ” But I am happy with the way I played today. It’s good to be playing some matches, I’m having a good time.” He also is wary of the threat Bellucci poses, saying ” Bellucci is playing some great tennis today. I’m going to go out there and take my game to him, and try not to give away too many balls.” The current head to head between Bellucci and Berdych is currently at 3-1 to Berdych going into tomorrow’s semifinal.
In other results third seed Richard Gasquet edged out German qualifier 7-6(4) 7-6(2) to advance into the last four. Well it was a scrappy first set with four breaks in a row between the two men starting in the seventh game. The first set went to a tiebreak which Gasquet stole toward its climax as he grabbed the tiebreak 7-4.
The Frenchman had many opportunities in the second set as he had seven break point chances but he could only convert once. Zverev would then cancel out that break in this cat and mouse chase, so it went to a second tiebreak. This time Gasquet rushed through the tiebreak as he took control and sealed the match in just over two hours. This win only secured his second semifinal of the season.
Gasquet will now play veteran Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, as he beat Malek Jaziri 7-6(6) 6-2. Tipsarevic struck down 13 aces past Jaziri, as he had too much for the Turk. Tipsarevic and Gasquet will meet for the third time on Saturday, the first time since 2012. However they haven’t met for four years.
