Del Potro, Fognini enter Los Cabos Open final
Saturday - August 4, 2018 9:10 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
Del Potro, Fognini enter Los Cabos Open final
Los Cabos (Mexico) Aug 4 (IANS) Top-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro got a stern test from speedy Damir Dzumhur in the semi-finals of the Los Cabos Open but came away with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) victory.
He will next take on second-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini a 6-4 6-2 winner over the United Kingdom s Cameron Norrie in the final of this hard-court event in western Mexico reports EFE news agency.
Del Potro traded breaks with his third-seeded Bosnian opponent in the first two games of their Friday-night semi-final.
But the Argentine got his nose in front again when he broke serve in the eighth game on a forehand error by Dzumhur and then wrapped up the set with a service hold.
Del Potro appeared to seize total control of the match when he broke to start the second set and then fought off a break point to grab a 2-0 lead.
The world No. 4 had a chance to serve out the contest in the 10th game but he got broken for the second time in the match partly due to a costly double fault and the second set came down to a tie-breaker.
Del Potro was unable to create any breathing room in the "breaker" and even needed to produce a backhand down-the-line passing shot winner to stave off a set point.
But the Argentine s lethal forehand emerged at critical junctures including on match point to give him the decisive edge.
"It was a good fight from him. We played good tennis especially in the second set " Del Potro was quoted as saying on the ATP World Tour s Web site. "I made some mistakes in the end of the set but then I played a smart game in the tie-break. I took my chances to win and I m glad to reach another final this season."
Del Potro will square off in the championship match against the 15th-ranked Fognini whose strong return game was the difference once again in his win over Norrie.
The Italian broke Norrie s serve four times on Friday night and has racked up 13 service breaks in three matches at this year s Los Cabos Open.
"It will be tough tomorrow against Fabio " Del Potro said. "But anything can happen in the final so I will try to do my best."
The Los Cabos Open is a tune-up event for the US Open which gets under way on August 27.
--IANS ajb/vm
He will next take on second-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini a 6-4 6-2 winner over the United Kingdom s Cameron Norrie in the final of this hard-court event in western Mexico reports EFE news agency.
Del Potro traded breaks with his third-seeded Bosnian opponent in the first two games of their Friday-night semi-final.
But the Argentine got his nose in front again when he broke serve in the eighth game on a forehand error by Dzumhur and then wrapped up the set with a service hold.
Del Potro appeared to seize total control of the match when he broke to start the second set and then fought off a break point to grab a 2-0 lead.
The world No. 4 had a chance to serve out the contest in the 10th game but he got broken for the second time in the match partly due to a costly double fault and the second set came down to a tie-breaker.
Del Potro was unable to create any breathing room in the "breaker" and even needed to produce a backhand down-the-line passing shot winner to stave off a set point.
But the Argentine s lethal forehand emerged at critical junctures including on match point to give him the decisive edge.
"It was a good fight from him. We played good tennis especially in the second set " Del Potro was quoted as saying on the ATP World Tour s Web site. "I made some mistakes in the end of the set but then I played a smart game in the tie-break. I took my chances to win and I m glad to reach another final this season."
Del Potro will square off in the championship match against the 15th-ranked Fognini whose strong return game was the difference once again in his win over Norrie.
The Italian broke Norrie s serve four times on Friday night and has racked up 13 service breaks in three matches at this year s Los Cabos Open.
"It will be tough tomorrow against Fabio " Del Potro said. "But anything can happen in the final so I will try to do my best."
The Los Cabos Open is a tune-up event for the US Open which gets under way on August 27.
--IANS ajb/vm
