Top seed Tomas Berdych kept his title hopes alive by battling past Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, at the Los Cabos Open in Mexico.
Bidding to win his first title of the season, the world No.14 got off to a sluggish start after dropping his opening service game, which cost him the first set. It wasn’t until the second set when Berdych started to take control by breaking his opponent twice to level the match. Still, the danger was not avoided. In the decider the Czech was trailing 1-4 before winning five consecutive games to book his place in the semifinals.
“I think it was a good test because he played really well. I had to fight a lot to get the victory today, but I got it in the end. Matches like this are more appreciated than winning 6-2, 6-2.” Berdych said about his quarter-final win.
“The key was to stay very patient and keep believing in myself because he started playing really aggressive, without any mistakes, his balls were working pretty well in these conditions, they were really fast.”
Berdych’s biggest weakness in his clash with Mannarino was his second service performance. The former Wimbledon finalist only managed to win 47% (18/38) of points.
The next test for the top seed will be Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis. The wild card entrant converted four of his five break point opportunities to defeat Taylor Fritz 7-6(5), 6-2. Recently returning to the tour after being troubled by injury for 18 months, the 21-year-old will now play in his first ATP semifinal.
“This week has been great,” Kokkinakis told atpworldtour.com. “I obviously got through a couple of tough matches in the first two rounds, which is good to get through for the confidence, then I think I played my best match of the week today. It was neck and neck in the first set, but I was able to hang tough in the tie-break, then I opened up in the second set, got on top of him and was able to play a little more freely.”
The semifinal match will be a battle of the experienced against the young. This week Berdych is aiming to reach his 32nd ATP final and Kokkinakis his first.
“He plays really aggressive, a great forehand. I have never played him, but he is very hungry, he is coming (back) after a long injury, he’s a young guy so it’s going to be a good challenge.” Berdych said about their upcoming meeting.
Sam Querrey closes in on Mexican double
Second seed Sam Querrey experience little difficulty in his match against Vincent Millot. The American claimed 79% of his first service points and didn’t face a single break point during his 6-1, 6-3, triumph.
“I think I played well. My first service was better than yesterday. Each day is more difficult, but if I keep my game I have great chances to get to the final.” said Querrey.
Querrey is bidding to win his second title in Mexico this year. In March he defeated Rafael Nadal to win the Acapulco Open, his ninth ATP title.
In the last four, the 29-year-old will play Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur. Dzumhur, who yet to contest an ATP final, saved three match points to knock out 2016 finalist Feliciano Lopez 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(2).
