Feliciano Lopez rallied to upset top-seed Gael Monfils. The Spanish lefty beat the world no. 13 3-6 6-1 7-6(1) after 92 minutes of play.
Monfils started out well in the first set. The Frenchman served 11 of his 19 match aces on the Spaniard in the first set and made 62% of his first serves, but his play dropped dramatically in the second set. Lopez, on the other hand, was consistent for the entire match. The Spaniard was also helped by the Frenchman’s injury, which slowed Monfils down in the second set.
The Frenchman managed to pick up his play in the third set and held his serve for the duration of it. Lopez proved too much and took over in the tiebreak. With today's win, Lopez is in the hunt for his second-career title. His only title came in Vienna in 2004.
The real shocker of the day was David Ferrer’s ouster. The Spaniard is one of the fittest players on tour and is usually so consistent. He usually beats the players he should beat. Today, Stephane Robert, the world no. 100, upset the world no. 18 7-5 6-4 after 96 minutes of play.
The 29-year-old Frenchman seeks his first ATP World title of his career. Robert usually plays on the challenger and futures tours. By making it to the final of an ATP World tournament, the Frenchman is having a dream run this week. He has only played in 2 other ATP World tournaments and 2 grand slams in his entire career. Before he would lose in the first rounds (Houston 2004 and Roland Garros 2004), this year he made it to the second round at Chennai and the Australian Open. His run this week marks his best career performance to date.
Obviously, Lopez and Robert have never played. On paper, Lopez should win the final tomorrow. It shall be seen if the Frenchman can follow up today’s upset.
Singles Semifinals
3 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 1 Gael Monfils (FRA) 3-6 6-1 7-6(1)
8 Stephane Robert (FRA) def. 2 David Ferrer (ESP) 7-5 6-4
Doubles Semifinals
K Beck (SVK) / H Levy (ISR) def. S. Darcis (BEL)/X. Malisse (BEL) 7-5 4-6 10-7
Championship Sunday
Singles Final
3 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. 8 Stephane Robert (FRA)
Doubles Final
K. Beck (SVK)/H. Levy (ISR) vs. R. Bopanna (IND)/A. Qureshi (PAK)
Sunday’s Order of Play
(Image: Reg Caldecott)
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3 comments
Go Feli Go Feli!!
clearly this justifies the scientific findindg:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18176-betterlooking-sportsmen-more-likely-to-win.html
More like crack science. When you change the definition of attractive, then its claims are true. Robert Kendrick is considered the most attractive player in this study. He's a good looking guy. Most attractive? I don't know about that.
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