Match report

Juan Martin Del Potro © Tennistalk.com
AIG Japan Open
Semi final
10/4/08 1 2 3 Tot
ar  Juan Martin Del Potro 6 4 7 2
fr  Richard Gasquet 3 6 5 1
Richard Gasquet © Tennistalk.com

  • Del Potro tops Gasquet in nail-biter semifinal

    10/4/08 11:55 PM | Cheryl Murray
    In a match that was decided in the last moments of the third set, Juan Martin Del Potro and Richard Gasquet battled for a spot in the finals of the AIG Japan Open.

    Argentina’s Del Potro came out in the first set in command of the match. Gasquet seemed to have a difficult time on his own serve. Del Potro was able to break the Frenchman’s serve three times in the set. Del Potro was broken once himself, but he still pocketed the set at 6-3, and the match looked as if it were going to be a one-sided drubbing at the expense of Gasquet.

    Instead, the Frenchman came back with a vengeance in the second set. Del Potro did not have a single opportunity to break in the second, and Gasquet cashed in on his only chance on the Argentine’s serve. With the match level at one set a piece, things started heating up. The two men went toe-to-toe for the third set until 5-5 on Del Potro’s serve. Suddenly, the Argentine visibly tightened up. He donated two double faults, and served up a weak second serve on Gasquet’s first breakpoint in the game. The Frenchman’s serve just missed.

    Luck seemed to be on Del Potro’s side, because he also got a net cord during that game, eventually holding. At 5-6, it was Gasquet’s turn to get tight. The missed opportunities in the previous game shook Gasquet’s confidence, and he was broken to give Del Potro the match. The Argentine will take on a resurgent Tomas Berdych in Sunday’s final.

  • Thumbs up

    This was a highly entertaining match. Great play from both ends, and the result never seemed to be predictable throughout.

  • Thumbs down

    Unfortunately, the match was decided because Gasquet flinched.

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