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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….
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Topics: Michael Barrer, Mikhail Youzhny