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Del Potro and Berdych reach Japan Open final

04/10/2008

Rising Argentinian star Juan Martin Del Potro has reached the final of the Japan Open where he will face ninth seed Tomas Berdych.

Del Potro knocked out stylish Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, to claim an unbelievable 29th win in 30 matches. His only loss came at the hands of British star Andy Murray in a titanic match at the US Open.

Gasquet struggled badly on his serve in the first set and lost it three times as Del Potro comfortably took it 6-3. The Frenchman hit back in the second set and hit some trademark winners, as he broke his opponent once and wrapped up the set by not losing any if his service games.

The deciding set was a tense affair and Gasquet had a golden opportunity to take it. He was 15-40 up on the Del Potro serve at 5-5, but he was unable to break. Del Potro then made Gasquet pay for not taking his chances and went on to win 7-5.

"He (Gasquet) served very well in the second and third sets. He has a good backhand and he made a lot of slices. I don't like it," said the 20-year-old Del Potro. "But I served well, too, when I needed it. I was a little lucky but I played good."

Berdych was involved in a monumental tussle with American star Andy Roddick, with the former world number one leading 3-0 and 5-2 in the deciding set, before Berdych hit back to triumph 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).