Thomaz Bellucci outlasts Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals – Credit Agricole Suisse Open 2012
Brazil’s 60th ranked player, Thomaz Bellucci, advanced to the fourth title match of his career on the ATP World Tour by prevailing over the world number 61, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, in straight sets 7-6(3), 7-6(5)
in the semi-finals of the Credit Agricole Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland on Saturday.
Bellucci and Dimitrov made an interesting start, as they exchanged a break of serve in the opening two games of the match to level the proceedings at 1-1. None of the two players managed to strike during the rest of the set, levelling
the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Bellucci got off to a flying start, as he captured opening four points to attain a 4-0 lead. He relied on that lead till the end, sealing the first set 7-6(3).
The Brazilian banged in a couple of aces and 62 percent of the first serves, securing 23 of the 29 points on them. The Sao Paulo, Brazil resident could not answer his opponent’s big first serves properly, losing 21 of the 26 points
on them but he compensated by winning eight of the 12 second return points in the opener.
After losing the first set with the closest of margins, Dimitrov made an impressive start in the second, as he struck in the opening game and held his following serve without losing even a single point, moving ahead 2-0. However,
Bellucci gave a quick response, allowing the Bulgarian to win only one point in the subsequent two and levelling the score at 2-2. The next eight games went with the serves to take the score to 6-6 and force a tie-breaker. Bellucci, once again, got the upper
hand by taking a 5-2 lead. Dimitrov tried to come on equal terms, as he closed the gap to 5-6 but lost in the end with the score of 6-7(5).
The Brazilian will lock horns with the top seed, Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, in the final. Tipsarevic beat French player, Paul-Henri Mathieu, in straight sets in the semis.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Tipsarevic said, "The first set could have gone either way. I think he went for too much in some occasions in the second set and I was just more solid than him. I needed some time to adjust
to the conditions here. I somehow survived the early rounds and here I am in the final."
In their most recent match last week, Bellucci lost to Tipsarevic in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 in the semi-finals of Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.
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