One win is all that separates Lucas Pouille from breaking into the top 10 for the first time in his career.
The French second seed has closed in on the milestone following an epic 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6(5), win over Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in the semifinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Pouille, who has reached his second straight tour final, hit 16 aces and won 86% of points behind his first serve. On what was a rainy day in Dubai, the Frenchman had the chance for a straight sets victory as he lead the match, 6-3, 5-3. But was unable to close it out as he held his nerve to clinch the decisive tiebreaker.
“It was really tough serving for the match,” said Pouille.
“Then came the rain (for an eight-minute pause late in the second set). When we came back out it was a very different match, very tight.
“I’m very, very happy to be in the final, I told myself to stay focussed. I tried to do my best when we came back out (for the second time).
“The tiebreaker was intense, every point was tough to win. But I think I played my best tennis in the second tiebreaker.”
24-year-old Pouille is now within touching distance of the top 10. Despite the milestone looming, he has played down the significance of it. Casually saying that the final ‘is not going to be the most important match of his life.’
“Of course, I know. I heard. I’m not watching the ranking, but so many people told me already. Of course, I know,” he told reporters at his press conference.
“Well, that’s exciting. Playing to reach the top-10 for the first time, of course it’s something great. But obviously if I play like this every week of the year, I mean, if I’m focused like this and I’m mentally as strong as I am now, I’m sure one week or another I will be in the top 10.”
Third seed Roberto Bautista Agut is the player hoping to deny Pouille the Dubai title. In his semi-final clash, the Spaniard ended the run of underdog Malek Jaziri with a 6-3, 6-4, win. Jaziri was participating in the last four of an ATP tournament for the first time at the age of 34.
Bautista Agut, who was trailing 1-4 in the second set, will now play in the final of an ATP 500 tournament for the first time in his career.
“I’m in the first final in a 500 event [and] I think I played a great match,” Bautista Agut told atpworldtour.com. “He was playing unbelievable at the beginning of the second set, playing very fast [and he played] some good volleys.”
Pouille trails Bautista Agut 1-2 in their head-to-head, but won their most recent encounter at the 2016 US Open.
