Tennis News

Friday’s matches at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships featured two grueling semi-final contest, and the winners that crossed the finish line did so in impressive fashion. Now, top seed Simona Halep and rising star Karolina Pliskova will meet for the first time in the final of the UAE-based tournament to determine who will lift the crown in 2015.

Watch the final match live here: Halep v Pliskova Live Stream

Halep didn’t look her best at the start of her match against Caroline Wozniacki, but eventually found herself during the second set, and applied the necessary pressure to close out the contest in the decider. Halep hit 58% of her first service points and saved five break points to defeat the Dane 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

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“When I started the match I started with bad tactics – I was just hitting every ball and I made too many mistakes. I couldn’t find my rhythm,” Halep said afterwards. “In the second set I knew I had to change it and just play with good length and open the court more. I knew I couldn’t force it too much like I did in the first set. That worked very well for me, and I just kept doing it until the end of the match.”

Earlier in the day, Pliskova managed to survive a difficult battle against fellow rising talent Garbine Muguruza, whom she eventually edged with a lone break in the Spaniard’s final service game. The match was dominated by serves, and ended 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in just under three hours of court time.

“I feel amazing, I really didn’t expect to get to the final here,” Pliskova said. “We both have great serves, so it’s always going to be tough to break, even if you have 0-30 or 0-40, it doesn’t mean anything until you get that final point. I put everything into my serve to get that final game.”

This is the first time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, and given their respective weeks on the tour, it will likely be an entertaining affair that will dazzle the fans in attendance. Pliskova is in her second final of the season and will be looking to lift the title and shoot up to No. 11 in the rankings. However, she will come up against a tough, durable opponent who will make her work for the victory.

Prediction: Simona Halep in Three Sets

Following an interesting night in Rio de Janeiro, top seed and undefeated champion Rafael Nadal will contest a semi-final match-up against Fabio Fognini – one that will bring him one step closer to defending the clay court title. Nadal remains undefeated against Fognini, as he holds a 4-0 head to head record against the Italian, including a recent win at the Miami Masters in 2014.

Follow the SF match live here: Nadal vs Fognini Live Stream

Undoubtedly the most surprising moment of the day was when Cuevas found himself a set up against the ‘King of Clay,’ and in the running for a big upset victory. However, Nadal weathered the storm and eventually found his opportunity to pounce and force a deciding set. There, he took complete control and bageled Cuevas en route to a 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 win at nearly 3am local time.

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“It was a complicated time at the beginning, but in the second set I felt better. I felt better control in the match even though I could not break him until 6-5. I’m happy because this was an important victory for me, to be able to be in a semi-final. It’s a great result, it gives me points, confidence and the opportunity to play tomorrow. I hope I’m recovered.”

Italian No. 1 Fabio Fognini took part in a contest that lasted well over three hours to advance to the semi-final round of the Rio Open. He defeated Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-7(10), 7-6(9) in a tight match that featured many enthralling match points before he eventually clinched it on the ninth attempt.

“It’s always a tough match against Federico, and this was a crazy match,” he said. “Now I’m happy, and all I want to do is rest well.”

This marks the fifth time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Nadal leading the series with an undefeated 4-0 record. Fognini has only ever won one set against the Spaniard, and that was on hard court. Nadal is a far different beat on clay and should win the contest in straight sets.

Prediction: Rafael Nadal in Straight Sets