Dzumhur Emerges From Historic Moscow Semi-final

It was a historic day at the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow, with two Bosnians playing in the semi-final of an ATP World Tour event for the first time.

But it was sixth seed Damir Dzumhur who continued his good play with a 6-0, 7-6(9) victory over qualifier Mirza Basic, his best friend, who had not reached a tour-level quarter-final before this week.

“It means a lot for us. It means a lot for Bosnian tennis. It means a lot for Bosnian people,” Dzumhur said. “I think back home in Bosnia everyone was watching us today. Some people were probably for cheering for him, some for me, but I think most of the people were just enjoying the tennis, especially in the second set when Mirza played very good tennis.”

For Dzumhur, No. 38 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, it will be his second final on Russian soil in the span of a month after claiming his maiden trophy at the St. Petersburg Open in September. He is projected to climb to a career-high ranking of at least No. 33 by making the final.

At the beginning of the semi-final, it appeared that the higher-ranked player would cruise. Dzumhur lost the first two points of the match on his own serve, but would go on to speed through the opening set in 22 minutes, facing just two break points in the fifth game.

“Mirza was tight, I could feel that. He was nervous and I used that in the start after getting a 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 lead. I knew that it was going to be an easy set, but [I knew] the second one is not going to be easy because you cannot have two easy sets against a guy like Mirza,” Dzumhur said. “When he’s serving good, when he’s in the zone, he’s very dangerous and that’s what he showed in the second set.”

Basic, World No. 209 played far better than his ranking in the second set, holding serve throughout to keep the match close. At 5-6, he saved eight match points on his serve in a 28-point game to force a tie-break.

“I just couldn’t finish it because he was either playing an amazing serve or a good forehand, good volley,” Dzumhur said. “After a few match points when you don’t use it, don’t finish, you get a little tight, you get a little bit nervous… I’m sure that if we went to a third set he’d have the advantage. He’d have confidence, I would be down because I didn’t use so many match points and so I knew that I had to finish in two sets. Luckily for me I finished it and I’m in the final.”

Dzumhur failed to convert two more match points in the tie-break, and saved two set points against him, but ultimately closed Basic out in straight sets.

The 25-year-old will play third seed Adrian Mannarino or Ricardas Berankis in the final, but for now is enjoying what was a special day for his nation.

“Definitely before we started the tournament we couldn’t imagine that we would play in the semis here in Moscow,” Dzumhur admitted. “That’s a huge thing for Bosnian tennis. That’s a huge thing for both of us and especially for Mirza, his first semis….I don’t feel good because I beat my best friend, Mirza, but one of us had to go to the final and I would say the same if I lost.”