By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, October 1, 2016

 

Richard Gasquet  held a 6-1, 4-1 lead when a gimpy Janko Tipsarevic retired from today's semifinal suffering a right leg injury.

Photo credit: AFP

Richard Gasquet took the fast track into his second final of the season in Shenzhen.

The third-seeded Gasquet held a 6-1, 4-1 lead when a gimpy Janko Tipsarevic retired from today's semifinal suffering a right upper leg injury.

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It is Gasquet's first final since he defeated compatriot Paul-Henri Mathieu to win Montpellier in February.

Gasquet will face reigning champion Tomas Berdych in Sunday's final.

The top-seeded Czech defeated 81st-ranked Thomaz Bellucci, 6-2, 7-5, in today's second semifinal.

Berdych hit nine aces and won 30 of 34 points played on his first serve.

Former world No. 8 Tipsarevic, who has been hampered by a foot injury in recent years, was contesting his first ATP semifinal since winning the 2013 Chennai title.

Tipsarevic double faulted to gift the first break in the fifth game.

Finding his groove, Gasquet painted the line with an ace then produced a whip-lash backhand winner crosscourt backing up the break at love for 4-2.

Streaking through a run of 10 straight points, Gasquet broke at love extending his lead to 5-2.

The 30-year-old Frenchman slashed a forehand inside the line, winning 14 of the last 15 points in wrapping up the 31-minute opening set.

Trying to press the issue, Tipsarevic hit his third double fault then pushed a high forehand volley wide as Gasquet broke for a 2-1 second-set lead.

During the ensuing changeover, the 32-year-old Serbian called for the trainer who wrapped heavy taping around his right thigh.

Tipsarevic tried shortening the points to minimize the strain on his leg and disrupt the Frenchman's rhythm, but Gasquet had the right answers. He curled a forehand pass down the line earning his fourth break for a 4-1 advantage after 56 minutes.

At that point, Tipsarevic pulled the plug, shaking hands to end the match.

Gasquet is through to his 26th career ATP final and will play for his 14th career championship tomorrow.

Berdych and Gasquet have split 14 career clashes. The ninth-ranked Czech scored a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory in their most recent meeting in the Miami round of 16 last March.