Four tiebreakers. Zero breaks of serve.
Nothing much separated the four Western & Southern Open semifinals on Saturday, but in the end it was Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios who battled into what should be an entertaining title match on Sunday afternoon.
Dimitrov gave John Isner a taste of his own medicine, taking down the big server and tiebreaker machine 7-6(4), 7-6(10) after two hours and three minutes. A wild second-set tiebreaker that lasted almost 20 minutes saw multiple match points and set points saved until the 11th-ranked Bulgarian earned a critical mini-break at 10-10 and finally served it out one point later.
“Today was, I think, one of those matches that I really had to just be patient,” Dimitrov assessed. “I think that that was the key. I knew I’m not going to have that many rallies against John. I knew that he’s going to serve big, bold serves. I just had to be very composed and use every opportunity that I had. I think in the end of the match, it was just a few points that made the biggest difference for me.
“I’m just happy with the way I kept myself together throughout the whole match–just remained calm in those tough moments. I mean, I know it’s nerve-wracking from outside, but it’s even tougher when you’re in there and have to receive a serve that comes 141 miles an hour.”
Ferrer also had to receive a few of those; too many, in fact, for his run to continue in Cincinnati. The 35-year-old held all 12 of his service games but never quite seized break of his own. Just like in the Dimitrov vs. Isner clash, both sets progressed to tiebreakers without a single break of serve. Kyrgios ultimately had too much firepower during the pressure-packed moments and prevailed 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in two hours and four minutes.
The Australian out-aced Ferrer 14 to one and won an impressive 43 of 48 first-serve points. Each man fought off three of three break points.
“He was a nightmare to play, especially because I’m a tall guy and he’s not the tallest guy,” Kyrgios said of the Spaniard. “He hits the ball pretty flat. The whole time there is nothing shoulder height for me to hit. I’m always trying to hit underneath and trying to hit up and over it. It’s a tough matchup for me. I thought today I didn’t play my best tennis. I certainly didn’t serve great during the set. In the tiebreaks I served well, but I definitely didn’t bring my best tennis today.
I’m just really proud that I managed to scrap out the win.”
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