By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, July 25, 2015
Second-seeded Tommy Robredo defused explosive Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the Bastad final for the third time.
Photo credit: SkiStar Swedish Open/Fredric Berggren
Challenges facing Tommy Robredo were as clear as the umbrellas providing shelter for fans in the stands. An intermittent drizzle, heavy conditions and a hard-hitting young opponent stood between the 33-year-old Spaniard and his third trip to the Bastad final.
In the end, Robredo was the one still standing.
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In a battle of the ages, the second-seeded Spaniard tamed the elements and explosive teenager Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 6-4.
Two-time former champion Robredo will play Benoit Paire in tomorrow's final. The 59th-ranked Frenchman defeated defending Bastad champion Pablo Cuevas, 6-4, 6-3, in the second semifinal. Paire broke for a 5-3 second-set lead and closed out the win on his third match point.
It is Paire's first ATP final since he fell to compatriot Richard Gasquet in the 2013 Montpellier final. Robredo beat Paire 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-0 i their lone clash in the 2013 Casablanca quarterfinals.
The 18-year-old Zverev showed flashes of an aggressive baseline game that could well make him a force on the pro circuit for years to come—if he can get a bit stronger and play points with more care. Contesting his second career ATP semifinal, Zverev outplayed Robredo in the early stages, but often struggled to produce the finishing shot against a patient and precise opponent.
Playing his eighth Bastad semifinal with his left calf completely taped, Robredo was better on big points. He saved eight of 10 break points luring the teenager into overplaying at critical stages and turning his shoulders into his shots to take his opportunities.
Rain delayed the scheduled start by about an hour and 40 minutes due. Ushers sponged off seats puddled by rain, some fans huddle beneath umbrellas and others wrapped themselves in practice as the players trudged through early games trying to fine-tune their shots.
Robredo staved off three break points holding for 3-2. Dwelling on a game that got away cost Zverev, who played a few sloppy points then clanked a double fault deep to donate the break and a 4-2 lead. Countering effectively and drawing the down the line error, Robredo saved a break point to back up the break for 5-2.
Serving for the set, Robredo hit successive double faults to face double break point. Zverev, whose two-handed backhand can open the court and end points, missed two backhands in a row. Robredo whipped a wide serve sealing the first set in 37 minutes after saving seven of eight break points, including break points in his last four service games.
Moving forward decisively, Zverev saved a pair of break points earning a demanding hold to open the second set.
When he wasn't chirping at the chair umpire and his box about the drizzly conditions and soggy balls, Zverev was zipping shots into the corners. His backhand can be imposing and versatile, he can hit it with heavier topspin to angle it off the court or zap the flatter backhand down the line. The tall, lanky German drew a backhand error breaking for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Inexperience was most evident in Zverev's shot selection—he overhit going for kill shots at times—and stress response. Between the ornery mutterings, frustrated hand waving and racquet switches, Zverev sometimes gave the impression he didn't want to be out there between points. Facing a third break point, he opted to change his Head racquet before serving, returned to court and double faulted. Then Zverev climbed over the net to check the mark himself, unsuccessfullly arguing while Robredo sat on his chair after breaking back for 1-2.
The veteran Spaniard played the score more shrewdly and played the right shot at the right time. Robredo had not beaten the six-foot-six German with a lob all day long, but at 30-all in the seventh game, he scooped out a running forehand topspin lob that handcuffed his lanky opponent for break point. Zverev, who sometimes rushed through break points, nailed his two-hander into the top of the tape as Robredo broke for 4-3. Slashing his first ace of the day, Robredo consolidated for 5-3.
A sweeping backhand crosscourt brought Robredo to double match point. He missed a backhand down the line on the first. On his second match point, he coaxed a backhand error to secure a spot in his first final of 2015 and raise his Bastad record to 31-12.