Zagreb Update – PBZ Zagreb Indoors (02/04/12)

Written by: Staff on 5th February 2012

Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament 2012

Zagreb Update - PBZ Zagreb Indoors (02/04/12)

Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarter final match of the Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open tennis tournament at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, 05 January 2012. Nadal won 6-4 and 6-4. EPA/STRINGER |

Singles – Semifinal: (3) M Youzhny def. M Berrer 6-3 6-4

There is something extremely Mikhail Youzhny-ish about this. Usually he under-performs. Here, at an event where everyone else under-performed, he is playing well. He should rise to about #36. But Michael Berrer, last year’s finalist, is going to drop several more spots below #100. This loss may well cost him direct entry into the French Open.

Singles – Semifinal: L Lacko def. (6) M Baghdatis 7-5 7-6(7-3)

The rule around here seems to be, “Always a surprise finalist.” Last year, it was Michael Berrer. This year, with Berrer out, Lukas Lacko takes the role. The 24-year-old has never been in a final before, but just when Marcos Baghdatis seemed to be pressuring him in the second set, he raised his game just enough…. He increases his points by about a quarter, and should rise from #97 to around #65. He leaves Baghdatis just below the Top Forty.

Doubles – Semifinal: Baghdatis/Youzhny def. (2) Erlich/A Ram 6-2 6-4

Once again Erlich/Ram suffer an inexplicable loss. They still have very good days, sometimes, but their consistency really does seem to be gone.

Doubles – Semifinal: Dodig/Pavic (WC) def. Karlovic/Moser 6-3 6-7(5-7) 10-4 (Match TB)

And so Ivan Dodig is back in the Zagreb final after all. Just — not the final he wanted to be in….

Topics: Michael Barrer, Mikhail Youzhny