Almagro Reaches Second Final of the Season in Gstaad
July 31, 2010
Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad—Switzerland
No. 2 seed Nicolas Almagro advanced to his second final of the season on Saturday at the Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad.
Needing two hours and one minute to dispose of countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, Almagro continued the fine form that took him to an impressive three set win over Robin Soderling during the finals in Bastad, Sweden. Winning 88 percent of his first serve points, Almagro dug out a tough first set before being broken once in the second set. Tied at one set apiece, the 24-year-old began to increase the pace of his shots, while breaking Gimeno-Traver’s serve in the seventh game of the final set.
Improving to 37-18 on the season, Almagro will next face either Richard Gasquet or Yuri Schukin in Sunday’s title match. Gasquet defeated in-form Spaniard Albert Montanes in straight sets on Friday, while Schukin dismissed of top seed Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 2-6, 7-5. Schukin is attempting to become the second player from Kazakhstan to reach consecutive Tour-level finals. Andrey Golubev won the Hamburg title last week over Jurgen Melzer in straight sets.
Schukin is currently ranked No. 147 in the world.
Recent Comments