It’s Official In Gstaad

Qualifier Thomaz Bellucci will meet Andreas Beck in the final of the Swiss Open. Bellucci upset the third-seed Igor Andreev 6-4 7-5. This will be his second ATP final appearance of this year. His victory caps a strong Brazilian presence at the tournament this week, as he and Marcos Daniel made it to the semifinals. Bellucci’s compatriot did not fair as well, as Andreas Beck of Germany downed Daniel 7-6(3) 6-3 to book the last spot in the Swiss final.

Beck represents a new hopeful for German tennis after Michael Stich and Boris Becker retired and Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer are now veterans on the tour. The 23 year old is starting to transition out of the challenger circuit to the professional circuit. This year, he is beginning to play well in ATP tournaments. Beck started to make an impression on tour when he wrecked havoc, as a qualifier, in Monaco this spring by taking out Nicolas Kiefer, Gilles Simon and Juan Monaco.

Now, Beck and Bellucci will play for their first ATP title of their careers. Should Bellucci win the title tomorrow, he will be the first Brazilian to win an ATP title since the great Gustavo Kuerten won the Brazil Open in 2002.

Both players have never met in ATP competition. Bellucci did beat the German their only meeting in a Challengers event in Tunisia last year, but I am sure a lot has changed since then. Beck is starting to ratchet up his game, so tomorrow’s final should be a good one. It is nice to see some new blood in the ATP.

(Images: AP)