Help
2/13/10 3:38 AM | Ricky Dimon
Lukasz Kubot wins his second match of the day, rolling over Fabio Fognini on Friday night. Ricardo Mello also advances, ending Thomaz Bellucci's seven-match winning streak.
Lukasz Kubot and Ricardo Mello each won two matches on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Brasil Open. Kubot had an easy time with both Albert Montanes and Fabio Fognini, while Mello scored a pair of upsets over Victor Hanescu and Thomaz Bellucci.
Kubot, who still has a doubles match to play later on Friday night, scored his second straight blowout of the day at the expense of Fogini. After crushing No. 2 seed Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2, Kubot also surrendered only four games to Fognini in a 6-3, 6-1 blowout, needing just one hour and 18 minutes to book a spot in the semifinals.
The 27-year-old Pole did not serve particularly well in the first set, but he made up for it by taking control of rallies right from the start and dictating baseline play. Although he dropped serve once, he made up for it by breaking three times, the last of which came at 5-3 to finish off the opening frame of play.
Fognini went away quietly in set two and he was especially woeful at the few critical moments of the match. The 57th-ranked Italian saved none of the break points he faced while also squandering all three of his break-point opportunities. As Kubot hurried to finish the proceedings amidst light rain, he survived a tough service game at 5-1 to close it out. Next up for the world No. 56 is fourth-seeded Igor Andreev, against whom Kubot is 2-0 lifetime.
Impressively, Kubot bounced right back and won his third match of the day, storming to a 6-3, 6-1 doubles victory with partner Oliver Marach.
While Kubot was able to maintain his outstanding form (he also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open), Bellucci's hot streak came to crashing halt. The third-seeded Brazilian, who won his second career ATP title last week in Santiago, fell to veteran countryman Mello 6-3, 7-6(3) in one hour and 44 minutes.
Bellucci served dismally in the first set and could not overcome it, as his underdog opponent played impressive tennis from the baseline and went toe-to-tie with the world No. 28. Mello then managed to get the job done in straight sets, although not without a struggle. The world No. 135, in the latter stages of his career at 29 years old, got broken at 4-3 but he held the rest of the way en route to a tiebreaker. Mello seized a quick mini-break and made it stand up until the end, as he capitalized on his first match point at 6-3 to ease through the decider.
Next up for Mello is No. 1 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, who got through his second-round match on Thursday before dismissing Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-2 in Friday's quarterfinals.
Tell a friend »
upset of the year
RickyDimon , 2/13/10 4:44 AM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
There goes my cabbage. Seems to me I heard he was a lock for this tournament. Hmmm...lol.
Kelli , 2/13/10 4:39 AM