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Roberto Bautista-Agut to make semi final debut after Guido Pella win


Roberto Bautista-Agut has continued his formidable 2019 by beating Argentine Guido Pella 7-5 6-4 3-6 6-3 to make his first ever Grand Slam semi final.

Playing each other for the third time, the Spaniard has kept up his perfect record against his 29 year old opponent. An explosive start by the man from CastellĂłn de la Plana saw him break Pella’s serve straightaway.

Playing in his first ever Grand Slam quarter final, Pella did well to prevent Roberto Bautista-Agut going a double break ahead in the first set, as he saved three break points at 3-1 down. And just a few games later the man from Buenos Aires converted his sixth break point to level the first set at 4-4.

Having made his first Slam quarter final this year at the Australian Open when he lost in four sets to Greek young gun Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Spaniard looked determined make his first semi final. He pulled a break ahead again in the first set and served it out 7-5 after a Pella backhand slice was sent into the net.

Before the Australian Open, Bautista Agut had lost his previous nine fourth round matches since 2014. He appeared insistent on not hanging around as long to make his first semi final when he gained an instant break of serve again in the second set, before going on to close it 6-4.

Pella has come back from two sets down to win in five sets three times in his career, including in his fourth round win against Milos Raonic. This time it was Pella who got an early break of serve, showing his determination to up this tally to four. He only had to defend one break point in the third set, before closing it 6-3 and forcing 22nd ranked Bautista Agut into a fourth set.

Guido Pella made a quick start to the fourth set, gaining himself two chances to break the Bautista serve early again. The experienced 31 year old Bautista however saved them both, and went on to a 3-1 lead after succeeding where Pella had failed.

Serving the set out at 6-3, the former world number 13 beat his Argentine opponent to set up a maiden semi final appearance. He will face Novak Djokovic, whom he has beaten in both their 2019 meetings. He got the better of the world number one in Doha and Miami, but does however have a 7-3 deficit overall against the Serb.

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