Sam Querrey came from a set down to beat Alexandr Dolgopolov on Friday and reach the final of the Aegon Open in Nottingham, England, where the American was due to face Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Twelfth seed Querrey of the US won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the Wimbledon warm-up tournament and was in contention to end a three-year wait for an ATP Tour title. His last came in Los Angeles in 2012.
Istomin advanced to his first final when defending champion Marcos Baghdatis retired early in their semi-final with a left-calf injury.
Baghdatis, who was on a nine-match winning streak at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament, was leading 2-1 with a break in the first set when he pulled up after making a serve. He received treatment and retired.
“I felt my calf pop,” Baghdatis said. “I was feeling good, I was happy, everything was going my way and I was a break up early in the match. It’s just the way it is.”
Baghdatis said he would make a decision about playing at Wimbledon after seeing doctors yesterday.
The Australian Open runner-up and Wimbledon semi-finalist was drawn on Friday to face Donald Young of the US in the first round.
World No. 92 Istomin is unseeded at Nottingham, but has dropped just one set so far and Querrey predicted a close final.
“He has a similar game to mine,” world No. 44 Querrey said. “He’s got a big serve, I probably have a bigger forehand, he might have a bigger backhand, but he’s tough and does well on grass.”
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