Mikhail Youzhny shocks Monaco; Stanislas Wawrinka retires due to injury in Gstaad – Tennis News
Russian star, Mikhail Youzhny, came from behind to record a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(7) victory against the fourth seed, Juan Monaco, at the Credit Agricole Suisse Open 2013 on Friday. The Spanish challenger, Feliciano Lopez, also secured a spot in the semi-finals
when second seeded Stanislas Wawrinka was forced to retire due to lower back injury.
The Russian veteran lost his serve in the end to gift away the opening set. However, he stayed focused and after ruling in the deciding set’s tie-breaker, Youzhny secured a place in the final four.
"I was a bit lucky in the important moments today, saving match points and playing long rallies that were very close," said the Russian veteran in a post match presser. "My first match was tough due to the conditions and I’m glad to be in the semi-finals
now, having beaten a great player like Monaco today."
Up next for Youzhny is the former Gstaad champion, Victor Hanescu, who ousted Roger Federer’s conqueror, Daniel Brands, to set-up this clash. He recorded a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the German and has a 4-4 FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record against Youzhny. Hanescu
has penned down a victory against the Russian at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in their most recent meeting.
The fifth seeded Spaniard, Lopez, will accompany Youzhny in the final four. He was leading 6-4, 2-6, 4-3 when the local star, Wawrinka, was forced to pull out from the tournament due to lower back injury.
"The back problems started in the middle of the second set," the Swiss star commented in a courtside interview after earning the glory. "I also had some problems in s-Hertogenbosch and after Wimbledon. We’ll see tomorrow how I feel. I had a lot of chances
in the first set. It’s unfortunate that this happens here. I’ve been playing well this year so far and I really wanted to do well here too."
Lopez will square off against the world number 57, Robin Haase. The Dutch top ranked star stunned 2011 champion, Marcel Granollers, with a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) score line in two hours and 30 minutes.
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