Impressive! Rodionov reaches Bratislava final
The 27-year-old continues his brilliant tournament week with a victory over a Czech opponent.
Jurij Rodionov is in the Bratislava final!
In the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger, he defeated Czech player Dalibor Svrcina (ATP No. 119) in three sets 6:3, 6:7(6), 6:2.
Furious start
Rodionov got off to a perfect start in the match. In his first service game, he escaped a tight spot by saving three break points, before the Austrian managed to break Svrcina in the very next game.
After that, everything stayed on serve, with that single break enough for Rodionov to claim the set.
Hard-fought second set
The second set proved to be even more fiercely contested than the first. Once again, Austria's number two showed nerves of steel, saving another three break points from the Czech early in the set.
In the style of a top player, the Lower Austrian struck with cold precision at 5:5 on Svrcina's serve to break for 6:5.
However, Rodionov failed to serve out the match and immediately suffered a re-break to make it 6:6.
Rodionov misses match point
At 6:5 in the tie-break, the Austrian earned his first match point, but Svrcina managed to save it. Shortly after, the 24-year-old Czech made it 8:6 to take the second set.
In the deciding set, however, it was the 27-year-old who had the greater stamina. After the first four games, everything was still on serve in a neck-and-neck battle.
Four games in a row secure victory
From there, Rodionov broke the Czech twice to move to 4:2 and wrap up the set 6:2.
In Sunday's final, Austria's Davis Cup hero will face Switzerland's Jerome Kym (ATP No. 164). Rodionov will be fighting for his first title of the year.
