It was “Semifinal Saturday” at the If Stockholm Open. In one matchup, it was a battle of the seeds as seventh-seeded Jack Sock took on second-seeded Richard Gasquet. In the other semifinal, it was defending champion and top-seeded Tomas Berdych who would face Marcos Baghdatis. It was a solid performance from Sock who took out the Frenchman while Baghdatis retired after falling a set down.
(7) Jack Sock - (2) Richard Gasquet
The American has showed a good run of form to get to the semis defeating back-to-back quality opponents in Fernando Verdasco (three sets) and Gilles Simon (straight sets). Gasquet took out countryman and sixth-seeded Jeremy Chardy to get to the semis.
The American number two started off quickly with an early break and continued with his aggressive play as he held for 2-0. He would make it back-to-back breaks as he continued to pound at the Gasquet backhand with powerful cross-court forehands and finished off the break with a winner.
The display of Sock continued as he forced the second seed all over the court with drop shots and lobs, but Gasquet would pull one break back to get it to 4-3. A backhand winner helped the American go 40-30 up while serving for 5-3. He would hold and get a couple looks at set point on the Frenchman’s serve but would hold to take the opening set 6-4.
Sock continued his stellar play in the second as he would break the Frenchman early on once again with his backhand becoming his number one weapon. After another break for 4-1, the American looked well in control of the match. Three consecutive aces gave Sock three match points and capped the match off with another ace to make it four consecutive to end the match 6-4, 6-2.
(1) Tomas Berdych - Marcos Baghdatis
The Czech number one had a tough road to the semifinals. He defeated talented teen Alexander Zverev and then took out fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov. Baghdatis played three matches to get to the semis and took out Sam Querrey, fourth-seeded Bernard Tomic, and eighth-seeded Gilles Muller.
Berdych started off quickly winning the first three games as he was dictating with his favored forehand. The Cypriot saved three break points in the fourth game to finally get on the board, but that would all Baghdatis would get on the scoreboard in the opening set as Berdych closed it out with an ace. During the time in between sets, Baghdatis would talk to the physios and trainers and determined he could not fight it out anymore as he retired before the second set began.
Match Facts About The Final
Berdych is looking to notch a second consecutive and third overall title in Stockholm in the final tomorrow. Sock is the first American in the final since James Blake won the whole thing in 2006 and is one of two Americans in a final this week, joining Steve Johnson who made the final in Vienna after defeating Ernests Gulbis in the semifinals.