Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet qualify for semi-finals of Dubai Tennis Championships 2011
Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic defeated Philipp Petzschner of Germany 7-5, 6-4, in a hard fought match on Thursday to move to the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2011.
The first set saw both players breaking each other’s serve many times. Berdych was broken in the opening game of the set but broke back immediately to square off the set 1-1.
Petzschner served to stay in the set at 5-6, but despite hitting two consecutive aces, lost the control at crucial points to lose the opening set 5-7.
The German hit a total of eight aces and won 65 per cent of the points on his first serve in the opening set. He also saved six of the nine break points he faced.
The second set went on serve until the tenth game when Berdych broke his opponent to win the set 6-4. The Czech hit three aces and 57 per cent first serves in the set. He saved both the break points he faced on his serves.
Commenting on the match, the world number seven Berdych said, “These kinds of matches are more mentally tough than physically. Today it wasn't really about the nice game, great shots, and especially good rhythm and like feeling great on court.”
The Czech added, “If you can win the match let's say like today, when you need to fight really from first point until the last one and you don't feel that good on court, then the victory is even more special for me.”
Berdych will play the two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet of France came back from one set down to defeat his compatriot Gilles Simon 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
In the opening set, Gasquet got broken when he was serving to stay in the set at 5-6 and lost the set 5-7. He hit four aces and won 70 per cent of the points on his first serve in the set.
However, the world number 28 bounced back in the second set and broke his opponent’s serve twice. He held his serve at 5-2 to take the match to a decisive set and did not face any break point in the set.
Gasquet required only one break of serve in the third set and finished the match by holding his serve at 5-4. He hit a single ace and 52 per cent first serves in the final set.
With this win, Gasquet improved his head-to-head record to 5-0 against his countryman. The right-handed Frenchman will face top seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals.
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