Pablo Cuevas beats Guillermo Garcia-Lopez; secures semis berth at US Men’s Clay Court Championships
25-year-old Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas earned a hard fought 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over third seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at the Rivers Oaks Country Club on Friday. The Uruguayan held his nerves in the quarterfinal of the tournament
that lasted for two hours and twenty seven minutes.
His last appearance at the event came in the 2008, where he couldn’t move past the first round, losing to Ryan Harrison of America in straight sets.
At the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open, the 25-year-old Cuevas presented brilliant tennis skills to expel the German Michael Berrer out of the tournament in the first round. Following that win he reached the third round of the tournament
defeating Andy Roddick of America in straight sets, before losing to Gilles Simon of France in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 2-6.
The winner of 2008 French Open doubles title Cuevas had a sloppy start to the contest as he suffered a breadstick defeat in the first set. Garcia-Lopez on the other hand made a very positive entry into the tournament breaking his
opponent’s serves to win the set 6-1. The right-handed Garcia-Lopez disturbed his Uruguayan opponent with his stunning one-handed backhands, earning the critical points he needed.
However, the next two sets didn’t follow the same suit; regardless of having a tight hold to the match, the Spaniard lost the route and handed over the other two sets to his Uruguayan opponent 6-7(4), 3-6. The Uruguayan changed
his game strategy and landed in three aces and 44 percent of first serves. His strategy had just started working as he managed to convert 59 percent on points on first serves and 100 percent breakpoints in return. Trying to break each other serves, the pair
pushed the set into a tie-breaker. Cuevas converted mini-breakpoint opportunities to his favour and balanced the set score 1-1 as he clinched the tie-breaker 7-4.
In the third set, Cuevas hit one ace, 50 percent first serve and won a whopping 91 percent points on it. Garcia-Lopez on the other hand, opened the final set with two double faults and a meagre 59 percent points on first serves.
The Uruguayan bagged 50 percent of breakpoints in return and 77 percent of service points in total to clinch the final set with a 6-3 score line.
With this win the Uruguayan has reached the semi-finals of the tournament where he will face Kei Nishikori of Japan. Nishikori is enjoying his best performance at the event so far, he qualified for the semi-finals after defeating
America’s rising star Mardy Fish in two easy sets.
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