Article

  • Qualifier Gregorc reaches New Haven quarterfinals

    8/22/08 12:23 AM | Ricky Dimon
    -
    One surprising Pilot Pen run continues on Thursday and it is that of qualifier Luka Gregorc. He is joined in the semifinals by Fernando Verdasco and Mardy Fish.

    Luka Gregorc d. Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

    An incredible week for Gregorc, ranked ranked 434th in the world, is not over after an improbable comeback win over No. 7 seed Andreas Seppi. The Slovenian qualifier fired 14 aces and broke Seppi five times. Gregorc also had to recover from a break deficit in the third, but he managed to extend the set to 5-5 and broke again to serve for the match. “I started off well in the qualifying, getting through some tough matches,” Gregorc said. “One thing led to the other. I'm still in. I'm not surprised actually. I've been working hard and I've been playing well lately. This is kind of a little payback for all the hard work.” He will play either Marin Cilic or Igor Andreev in his first ATP semifinal.

    Fernando Verdasco d. Mischa Zverev 6-2, 7-6(4)

    New Haven's No. 1 seed made things easy in the first set, putting in an incredible 100 percent of his 22 first serves. He also broke Zverev twice in taking the opening frame of play 6-2. Verdasco converted 80 percent of his first deliveries in set two--still a great percentage--but the German managed two break twice. Verdasco also broke twice so a tiebreaker had to decide things. Pressure and experience became the difference and Verdasco denied Zverev his first ATP semifinal by winning it seven points to four. “I think I played really good all the match and I'm happy how I feel and how I play,” said the Spaniard, who will meet Mardy Fish for a spot in the final. “I think tomorrow the semifinals against Fish is going to be a hard match.”

    Mardy Fish d. Jesse Levine 6-3, 7-6(4)

    In a match similar to the Verdasco-Zverev clash, the favorite here rolled in set one before facing a battle in the second. Fish did not face a single break point in winning the opening frame of play 6-3. Levine, a lucky loser who got a bye straight into the second round, saved seven of eight break points to keep it close. It was even closer in set two, as Levine saved all six of the break points he faced. The American, however, still could not muster up even a single break chance against his big-serving countryman. Fish, who blasted 12 aces and won 33 of 37 first-serve points, closed out the match by taking the second-set 'breaker seven points to four. He leads his head-to-head series with Verdasco 1-0, having won on the grass courts of Halle back in 2004.

Tell a friend »

Comments


Write comment

You have to be logged in to comment. If you do not have an account, click here to register. It only takes a minute and you'll be redirected back to this page.
Username:

Password: