STUTTGART, June 17, 2017
Feliciano López and Lucas Pouille will compete in Sunday’s singles final at the MercedesCup.
López emerged victorious from the all-leftie-affair with sixth seed Mischa Zverev, the last German standing in the tournament. The encounter was dominated by the serves with the first two break points coming up after two hours and two minutes in the 12th game of the final set. It also meant match points for the Spaniard. Zverev could save the first but eventually double faulted on the second and López celebrated a 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 win to reach his fourth grass court final.
“It was a very close match. We were both serving very well and it was tough to return,” told López after the two hours and four minutes battle. “There are not many lefties on the tour and the fact that we only played a few times during the year, made it even more difficult because you have to adjust to the game. I was a little bit lucky at the end.”
The World No. 33 will compete in his first title match of the season, his first since the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos last year.
“I really would love to win the car. I played here many times. When the tournament was still held on clay, I played some great matches but I have never had the chance to play for the car. I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Mischa Zverev
Zverev was obviously disappointed but could also take some positives from this week.
“We served and played well in the third set but in the last game he managed to do two return winners. The last point was a very unfortunate doubles fault where I tried to go for the second serve and missed it a little bit,” told Zverev, who was supported by his fiancée and his coach.
“When you look back at the match, he deserved to win but it was extremely close. I hope that I can keep up the level and physical shape and then we will see where it goes.”
Pouille Wins All-French-Encounter
Lucas Pouille
Wild card entry Lucas Pouille advanced to his fifth final on the ATP World Tour, winning 7-6, 7-5 over fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire. The fourth seed from Grande-Synthe fired 13 aces, saved both break points he faced, converting one of his own to secure victory in one hour and 11 minutes.
Pouille and López will square off for the third time with their head-to-head series tied at 1-1. The Spaniard won their last meeting in Vienna last year in three sets.
In the doubles final Oliver Marach from Austria and Mate Pavic of Croatia, who knocked out the top seeded Bryan Brothers, will face Bruno Soares from Brazil and Briton Jamie Murray.
