The 2019 ATP Estoril semifinals are complete with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Pablo Cuevas both going the distance to secure their spots in the final. Here is your look at the Estoril Open action on semifinal Saturday.
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats David Goffin 3-6 6-4 6-4
Stefanos Tsitsipas secured his 6th ATP tour level final, the third of ATP 250 level (he won the two previous ones without dropping a set), after defeating David Goffin in a tight match that went into a deciding third set. David Goffin, who asked for a WC for this tournament (as his target is to get matches under his belt in order to recover the competitive level he had before getting injured), started the match playing solid tennis, cutting down the unforced error trend that he suffered yesterday against Malek Jaziri. The Belgian proposed backhand-to-backhand rallies in which he had the edge of the points against an erratic Tsitsipas who was expressing his negative feelings to Apostolos Tsitsipas, his father and coach.
In the second set, doubts in both players game raised to an equal point, as there were 7 breaks of serve in the first 8 games of the set. Both players proved to be returning good and playing good tennis without the pressure of serving, when they were missing too many balls (Goffin specially from the forehand side, Tsitsipas from the backhand side). Finally Stefanos, who tried to stop the pressure on his backhand side by slicing the ball, played two solid service games which allowed him to earn a two-game lead on the scoreline and finally close the set, saving two break points on the last game of it.
In the third set, both players totally changed the second set dynamic and started to dominate its service games, being conscious that any mistake on their serve could take them out of the match. Goffin was the player with the clearest chances of take an advantage, having a 0-40 on return. However, Tsitsipas raised his serve effectiveness and on crucial points Goffin longed his forehand too much as to miss clear chances to convert break points. Finally, Tsitsipas raised the level and played flat backhand shots with risk and aggressiveness, taking profit of it and getting a break (after two incomprehensible long balls from Goffin) which allowed him to close the match and earn a 3rd ATP 250 tour level final.
Pablo Cuevas defeats Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6 6-2 6-2
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina put an end to his dream run in Portugal Open after losing to Pablo Cuevas on a sunny afternoon in Estoril. The young Spanish player evidenced physical problems throughout all the match because of all the hours spent on court in the previous days, but was still able to produce quality points. The match started good for Cuevas, earning a 3-1 lead in the first set, but after that Davidovich started to find his aggressive and risky game (underarm serves included), winning five consecutive games in order to take the set. In the second set, the turning point was a break point against Davidovich with 2*-3 30-40, in which Cuevas produced the shot of the tournament by lobbing the Spanish with the racket behind his back. Alejandro, in clear desperation, threw a ball to the air without taking control of his body, and injured himself on the stomach muscular area. After a medical time out, his serve became noticeable slower (therefore Davidovich tried to give more effect to the ball) and he tried to cut down the length of the points by trying to reach the net and do drop shots more often. After the second set and throughout all the decisive set, Cuevas took control of the rallies and imposed his game but didn’t do it in a quick way, thanks to the brilliance and talent of the Spaniard rising star.
Davidovich, who will hit a career high ranking of 126 (after reaching a career high ranking of 167 a few days ago), will try to recover from the physical fatigue while travelling to Madrid, where he will participate with a WC in the Main Draw and will have the chance to meet Roger Federer in the R2 if he defeats Richard Gasquet. Before that Cuevas, who is participating in the Main Draw of Estoril as a Lucky Loser (replacing Krajinovic), secures his 10th ATP final (the first one since Sao Paulo 2017), and will have the chance to claim his 7th ATP title. His opponent will be Stefanos Tsitsipas, who met on Antwerp 2017 (Cuevas lost 1-6 4-6).
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