Robredo, Bellucci make Brasil final

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:18

A week after losing his semi-final matchup with Acasuso at Vina del Mar, Robredo returned the favour with a 6-2 6-1 victory.

The Spaniard has yet to lose a set at Costa do Sauipe, dropping just 17 games in four matches thus far.

The world No. 19, Robredo converted four of his 11 break chances while holding on both of Acasuso’s opportunities to advance in just 62 minutes.

The win gave Robredo a 4-3 advantage in matches with the fourth-seeded Acasuso, who committed five double-faults to just three aces. Robredo smashed six aces while double-faulting just once.

It is the first final appearance for the 26-year-old Robredo since July at Bastad, Sweden, where he defeated Czech Tomas Berdych to win his seventh ATP World Tour title.

In the other semi-final hometown favourite Bellucci won a pair of tiebreakers to down Gil 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/4) in two hours, 18 minutes.

Brazil’s top-ranked player at No. 84, Bellucci advanced to the first final of his career. He is the first Brazilian to make the final here since Gustavo Kuerten captured the title in 2004.

Both Bellucci and Gil held serve throughout the first set, but it was the 21-year-old who took control early in the tiebreak to take the lead.

Gil had a chance to serve for the second set at 5-4, but Bellucci broke for the only time in the match to send the second set into a tiebreak as well. After jumping to a 5-1 advantage, Bellucci surrendered the next three points before closing out the match with a pair of points on Gil’s serve.

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