Ugo Humbert was the first to qualify for the singles finals at the European Open on Saturday afternoon. The Frenchman defeated the Englishman Daniel Evans in three sets: 6-4, 6-7(7) and 4-6. The 22-year-old Humbert saved no less than four match points. The second semifinal between De Minaur and Dimitrov was won in a three setter by the young Australian, De Minaur. The semi-finals of the doubles were also drawn today. Peers and Venus win against Arends and Andújar. The last match of the day decided who will compete against Peers and Venus in the doubles finals. In the end it was Bopanna and Middelkoop (6/4, 3/6, 8/10) who were able to win against the Belgians.
In the first set, Evans (ATP 35) went straight through Humbert’s serve in the second game of the match. The Frenchman immediately caused a rebreak. However, Evans won in the first set with 6-4. In the second set, Humbert tried to restore the balance. The Frenchman immediately forced a break in the second game and ended up 0/3. Evans fought back in the set to 3/3 and forced a tiebreak. Humbert averted four match points and won the exciting tiebreak 7/9. Humbert was up and launched and built up a 0/2 and 2/4 lead in the third set. At 4/5, Humbert was able to put the match in its final fold on his own serve. This is the second final this season for Humbert. He won the tournament earlier in Auckland. “I just kept playing aggressively despite the 4 match points. I am very proud to be here in the finals,” said Humbert.
The second semifinal was one of magnitude. In the first set both players were not always able to keep their serving game. The first set was decided at a score of 6/6 with a tie-break which was eventually won 7/4 by De Minaur. The second set was as exciting as the first set. In a decisive tie-break it was this time Dimitrov who was the better player at the crucial moments and won the tie-break with 7/3. In an all-decisive third set, De Minaur went through Dimitrov’s serve to win the final set by 6/4 and qualify for his first final of the season. “I am very happy. It was a difficult match because Dimitrov is such a good player. I’m going to do everything I can now to recover well and be back on the pitch in top shape tomorrow. Ugo has been playing very well throughout the tournament. I think I will have to do a lot of running tomorrow,” said De Minaur. It is the first time that Humbert and De Minaur will be playing against eachother.
Bopanna and Middelkoop
In the last semi-finals of the doubles, the Belgian duo Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen could not win against Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop (6/4, 3/6, 8/10 ). The Dutchman and the Indian will proceed to the finals in the doubles of the European Open.
Peers and Venus
Pablo Andújar and Sander Arends played the first semifinal match of the doubles on Saturday morning. Their opponents were Australian John Peers and Michael Venus from New Zealand. A smooth two-setter (6/3, 6/4) in favour of Peers and Venus brings them to the finals of the doubles of the European Open.
