Defending Champ Tomas Berdych To Meet Richard Gasquet In Shenzhen Final
Tomas Berdych will try to successfully defend his Shenzhen title Sunday against former Top 10 Richard Gasquet. On semifinal Saturday, Berdych eased past Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 7-5 to reach his 30th career final and first of the season. This result comes just over a month after the Czech withdrew from the US Open due to appendicitis.
“It’s always a pleasure to play in front of a full stadium here,” said Berdych. “Today it was a great atmosphere and a great time to be on the court. I like the courts and the conditions and once you get a good result, it’s a place you want to come back to.”
“I was struggling physically the past few weeks, so it’s nice to be playing some matches and tomorrow I will have a chance to go for the title. Things are going well.”
Gasquet benefited from a second set retirement courtesy of Janko Tipsarevic who pulled out down 6-2, 4-1 due to a groin injury.
“Tennis is a tough sport,” said Gasquet. “It’s difficult to have no injuries, especially at this time on the year. Our matches are very tough, physically everyone is getting better and better. The game is more and more demanding. He’s had injuries in the past, same as me, and I hope he will recover well.”
Gasquet and Berdych have split 14 career meetings with Berdych winning their lone 2016 meeting in Miami.
Berdych seeks a 13th title, Gasquet a 14th.
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