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10/24/10 12:36 AM | Ricky Dimon
Marcos Baghdatis defeats Denis Istomin in a three-set semifinal on Saturday in Moscow. Viktor Troicki also advances to the final with a win over Pablo Cuevas.
Marcos Baghdatis reached the final of the Kremlin Cup on Saturday, but not before an epic struggle and an improbable comeback in the third set. Baghdatis toppled Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in a semifinal thriller that lasted two hours and 26 minutes.
The 19th-ranked Cypriot got off to a strong start by winning all 20 of his first-serve points in the opening set. One break was enough for Baghdatis to take an early lead because he saved all four of the break points he faced in set one.
No breaks were had throughout the second frame of play, as Baghdatis fought off an additional three break points and Istomin saved one. Istomin pulled out the 'breaker seven points to five to force a decisive third set.
With momentum in hand, the Uzbek raced to a two-break lead at 3-0 in the third. He was suddenly broken in the fourth game of the set but bounced back to serve for the match at 5-4. Istomin failed to close it out and two games later a tiebreaker was necessary to decide things. Baghdatis, clearly energized just to be in a tiebreaker, dominated it seven points to two.
Baghdatis will meet Viktor Troicki for the title on Sunday. Troicki eased past Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 11 minutes of play.
The Serb dropped serve in the opening game of the match but did not face a single break point the entire rest of the way. His fourth break of the day at 5-3 in the second finished off the proceedings in style.
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