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ATP WASHINGTON and UMAG: Cuevas and Klizan wastes match points. Isner, Karlovic, Monfils and Zverev through
- Updated: July 22, 2016
ATP 250 Umag (Outdoor Clay) :
It was not a good day for the favorites in Umag, as both Pablo Cuevas and Martin Klizan have had an early exit. They played the final in Hamburg 5 days ago, wanting to set up the semi-final clash here as well, but Andrej Martin and Gastao Elias took care to prevent such a scenario, both coming from behind after losing the first set. Also, after both reached the last 8 in Bastad 7 days ago, Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa repeated that for Portugal once again, which probably never happened before for this country at the ATP level. Prior to 2016, Gastao Elias has played in only 2 ATP quarter-finals, at home in Estoril in 2013-14, and he is now in already 3rd last 8 appearances of this season, edging the first seed Pablo Cuevas 3-6 6-3 7-6 in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Each player came to this week with career-best ranking, and it is Elias who will continue his climb with more points on his tally. In his first ever victory against the player from the Top 20, Elias won just 2 points more than Cuevas, as everything came down to those final points at 7-7 in the tie break of the third set! Nothing could separate the players on both the first and second serve, but it has to be said that Cuevas gifted 11 points to his rival through double faults, which was way too much in such a close and competitive encounter. The first set was fast and fluid, with both players showing their abilities on this kind of surface, with Cuevas winning it 6-3 after one break of serve. It came in game 8 and was totally unexpected as Elias lost only one point on serve in the opening 3 service games, being broken at love this time around. In the final game, Cuevas saved a break point to take the opening set, and it looked that he will justify his status of the favorite in this match. In the second set, returners had more chances, and the outcome was decided already in the second game when Elias broke at love. He then saved 2 break points in game 5 to stay in front, winning it 6-3 in the end and forcing a decider. They were again serving well in the final set, with only 3 problematic games and one break on each side before the tie break. Elias broke at love in game 7, serving for the match 3 games later but with no success, as Cuevas got back on the track at the last moment. In the tie break, Portuguese scored 4 mini-breaks to take it 9-7, but only after saving a match point at …
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