World No. 78 Denis Istomin has reached the Chengdu Open final. Uzbekistan's Istomin surprised No. 5 seed Yuichi Sugita in the semi-finals. The Uzbekistani's clutch third set performance handed him a 6-2 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 win.
Both players held on to their serves until the sixth game. Istomin converted his first break point of the match to open up a 4-2 lead. One more break of serve two games later handed Istomin the first set.
Sugita managed to regroup at the beginning of the second set. The Japanese broke Istomin in the fifth game to eventually open up a 4-2 lead.
Istomin, however, quickly bounced back, breaking back Sugita to make it 4-4.
As no more breaks of serve were seen, the set went into a tiebreak. Istomin seemed to be cruising to straight sets win as he had a 3-1 tie-break lead. Sugita then won six of the next seven points played to clinch a decider.
However, veteran Istomin kept his cool after losing the second set. The 31-year-old broke Sugita in the opening game of the third set. Sugita, who blew a game point in the first game, never recovered as he easily lost the set and the match, eventually.
Istomin hit 11 aces and won 79 percent of his first serve points against Sugita. The Uzbekistani also converted 6-of-9 of his break point chances.
The match came to an end after just over an hour and a half of action.
Baghdatis edges Pella
Istomin is set to meet world No. 113 Marcos Baghdatis in the Chengdu Open final. Cypriot Baghdatis defeated Argentina's Guido Pella in a three-setter 5-7 6-4 6-2. The Cypriot hit 12 aces and broke the Argentine five times in two hours and two minutes of action..
World No. 72 Pella started the match strong. However, Baghdatis immediately bounced back, as he won two games in a row to make it 2-2. No more breaks of serve were seen until the 12th game, Pella broke Baghdatis to seal the opener with a 7-5 score.
Baghdatis quickly recovered from losing the first set. Baghdatis broke Pella in the opening game of the second set.
The Cypriot eventually went on to open up a comfortable 5-1 lead. Though Pella reduced the deficit to 5-4 -- had a break point to make it 5-5 -- he couldn't finish his second set comeback.
Pella saved a break point to start the third set with a 1-0 lead. Baghdatis then stormed back, winning the next five games. Eventually, the Cypriot served out for the match in the eighth game.
Istomin and Baghdatis know each other
Istomin and Baghdatis are set to meet for the fourth time in their respective careers. The head-to-head record stands on Istomin's side, who has a 2-1 lead. The two met last time in Nottingham in 2015. Back then, Istomin was forced to retire the match after just three games played. Baghdatis will be eyeing to win his fifth ATP title at the Chengdu Open, while Istomin is eager to claim his second ATP title.
