Day six at the 2016 Geneva Open featured four semifinals, with both singles showdowns being joined with the last four battles in the doubles. In the singles draw, Marin Cilic defeated David Ferrer in the opening match of the day before later being joined by Stan Wawrinka, who defeated Lukas Rosol in three sets. The doubles finalists were confirmed, as top seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram will meet the third seeds Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson.
Cilic beats Ferrer for the first time since 2009
Marin Cilic defeated David Ferrer for the first time since 2009 to reach his second final in 2016, after previously losing the Marseille title to Nick Kyrgios. Ferrer had won the last four meetings since the Cilic victory at the Australian Open, but couldn’t win a fifth, losing 7-5, 7-5 to the big Croat.
The Spaniard grabbed the early advantage in their semifinal encounter, breaking in the third game on his first opportunity to establish a *3-1 lead. It looked likely that he was going to put one foot in Saturday’s final, by saving two break points in the very next game, but Cilic broke back to level the opener at 4-4. Both had more chances to prevent a tie-break which seemed likely when Ferrer was serving at *5-6, but he couldn’t prevent some strong forehands from Cilic clinching the first set 7-5.
This was only the first set that the 27-year-old had won over Ferrer since a clash in Miami in 2009, and this confidence boost was shown as he broke in his opening return game of the second set. This advantage was handed immediately back, as he was broken in the next game, before failing to hold his serve again four games later. Once again, however, the advantage couldn’t be built on, as he levelled the second set at 4-4. Ferrer had a game point to ensure a tie-break would take place at *5-6 again, but he couldn’t convert, leading to him being broken for the fifth time in the match to book Cilic’s place in Saturday’s final.
Wawrinka sets up twelfth meeting with Cilic
Cilic’s final opponent will be Stan Wawrinka as he ended Lukas Rosol’s valiant run by winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second semifinal. The top seed has been in stunning form throughout the week but lost his first set at the event as Rosol rallied to force a decider.
Wawrinka started in superb form once again, as he broke in the second game of the match to go to into a 3-0 lead. He was serving at 75 percent, only dropping four points on his serve to clinch the first set 6-2, after he broke Rosol yet again. The powerful Czech was struggling to do any damage when returning, but he took advantage of Wawrinka only serving at 48 percent in the following set, to break on his first opportunity, before going on to take the match to a decider by not losing a single point on serve in his following two service games.
That was only the second ever set Rosol had won in their previous three meetings, and he gave himself a chance of winning another by saving a break point to level the deciding set at 2-2. Unfortunately for the world number 68, he couldn’t capitalise, and was broken in his next service game to give Wawrinka the vital edge which he used to secure his third final of 2016. Interestingly enough, the pair have been drawn to face each other in the first round at Roland Garros, as the French Open begins on Sunday.
Doubles final line-up confirmed
The doubles final will be played by the top seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram, and the all-American pair of Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, who defeated Rosol and Julian Knowle in the final match of the day 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. Rosol was playing his second semifinal in quick succession, and he was unable to book at least one place in either final, as the Americans proved too much. Klaasen and Ram beat Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Santiago Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4 in the first doubles semifinal.
Day seven preview
Day seven features both finals, with the doubles clash taking centre stage first, followed by the singles final, which brings an end to the 2016 Geneva Open. Wawrinka and Cilic will clash for the twelfth time, and the Swiss looks to be the overwhelming favourite as he has won five consecutive meetings between the pair, never even losing a set when the two have met on clay.
Day seven Order of Play
Court Central – 1:00pm
(1)Raven Klaasen/Rajeev Ram - Steve Johnson/Sam Querrey (3)
NOT BEFORE 3:00pm
(1)Stan Wawrinka - Marin Cilic (3)