Second seed Dmitry Tursunov will play Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic in the final of the inaugural men’s Eastbourne International after winning P>
Russia’s Tursunov, the world No. 27, had a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, while Dancevic beat French fourth seed Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-4.
The two finalists met two years ago in Dancevic’s only previous ATP Tour final in Indianapolis where the Russian won.
PHOTO: EPA
Dancevic, ranked No. 126 in the world, surpassed his own expectations by surviving qualifying after falling and twisting his leg during a match.
After treatment, he went on to beat top seed Igor Andreev of Russia in the first round of the main draw of the grass-court event.
“I just came here before Wimbledon trying to get a few matches in the qualifiers and here I am in the final,” said Dancevic, who comes from Niagara Falls. “I have had an awesome time this week.”
Santoro, who has said this will be his last year on the ATP Tour at the age of 36, has delighted the crowd here with his ability to chase down every ball and his trademark deft touches, which long ago earned him the nickname “The Magician.”
Dancevic, 12 years the Frenchman’s junior, had some magic tricks of his own, often winning points at the net in exquisite exchanges.
He fought off three breakpoints in a long fourth game, which went eight times to deuce, and took the only break of the first set in the ninth game when Santoro put a backhand into the net.
A single break also decided the second set and Dancevic saved a breakpoint as he served for the match, before volleying the winning shot on his first match point.
Tursunov, who underwent ankle surgery last month, said the gusting winds in the seaside town had caused problems for all the players.
“It was swirly, it was wavy, it was zig-zagging; it had everything that it is not supposed to be when you play tennis,” he told a news conference. “It was definitely not the easiest conditions to play in.”
■ORDINA OPEN
‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NETHERLANDS
World No. 1 Dinara Safina suffered a blow ahead of Wimbledon when she was beaten 7-5, 7-5 by Thai star Tamarine Tanasugarn in the semi-finals of the WTA grass-court tournament.
It was a case of deja vu for the Russian — who is yet to win a Grand Slam after three finals appearances — as she lost in the final of the same tournament to 32-year-old Tamarine last year.
The Thai veteran, who has won two WTA Tour singles titles, came back from 4-2 down in the second set to win, raising her record against the top-seeded Russian to 2-1. This one held special significance, however, as it was Tamarine’s first career win over a reigning world No. 1.
“Today was a very difficult match for both of us, especially because of the conditions — the wind kept on changing,” Tamarine said. “The match could have gone either way. I just tried to play my game and stay focused.”
Tamarine, ranked No. 42 in the world, will meet Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer in the final after she disposed of Italy’s Francesca Schiavone with a hard fought 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-3 victory.
It will be the third time the 19-year-old Belgian — ranked No. 72 in the world — will contest a WTA final having lost to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko in Birmingham, though she won in Estoril last year.
Benjamin Becker had earlier won an all German battle in the ATP tournament as he beat fourth-seeded Rainer Schuttler in three sets to reach the final.
He will now play Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, who defeated Ivan Navarro of Spain 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3.
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