Thompson Serving For First ATP Tour Final, Play Suspended In ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Both Libema Open semi-finals were on the verge of completion Saturday evening, but rain pushed them back to Sunday.

Aussie Jordan Thompson was serving for a spot in his first ATP Tour final with a 7-5, 5-3 30/40 lead against defending champion Richard Gasquet when play was suspended in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

Thompson, who eliminated third seed Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, had never made a tour-level semi-final before this event. But he is just three points from defeating the former World No. 7. Thompson has struck 11 aces and earned 13 break points against the French veteran, converting three of those opportunities. The World No. 62 has broken serve 16 times this week.

The other semi-final between second seed Borna Coric and Frenchman Adrian Mannarino was suspended during a final-set tie-break, with Mannarino leading 3/2. Coric won the first set 6-4 before Mannarino took the second 6-3.

Coric saved one match point en route to a final-set tie-break victory in the quarter-finals against Cristian Garin, and he has saved two match points on his own serve against the Frenchman.

Mannarino increasingly frustrated Coric in baseline rallies, earning two match points at 5-3 in the decider with the Croat serving. But Coric played aggressively to fend off those chances, breaking in the next game.

If Mannarino and Thompson both advance to the championship match, that would guarantee that there will be a first-time ATP Tour champion in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Mannarino is 0-6 in tour-level finals.

Did You Know?
If Thompson finishes off Gasquet, he will be projected to crack the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings for the first time on Monday.