Makkah Lanterns Festival returns for the eighth year as part of Ramadan activities    Saudi Arabia designates methamphetamine-related offenses as major crimes requiring detention Drug users can seek treatment without prosecution under Article 42 of the Narcotics Control Law    Putin sets out conditions for Ukraine ceasefire    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Saudi ambassadors take oath before Crown Prince    NCM forecast: Thunderstorms to hit most Saudi regions until Monday    16 endangered species released into AlUla's Protected Areas    Saudi Crown Prince reaffirms support for a political solution to Ukraine crisis in call with Putin Putin praises Saudi Arabia's constructive role and mediation efforts    Saudi Arabia welcomes border agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    British car maker recalls 7,000 SUVs over risk of doors flying open    Saudi Arabia meets goals in localizing chia cultivation    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Absher carries out over 430 million e-transactions in 2024    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Al Hilal crushes Pakhtakor to storm into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Berdych to face Tsonga in semis
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 02 - 2017

Former winner Tomas Berdych crushed defending champion Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-3 to set up a Rotterdam World Tennis semifinal with France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Friday.

The fourth seed will play for a spot in the finals at the Ahoy stadium Saturday when he takes on Tsonga, who upset top seed Marin Cilic 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7/5) in two hours.

The Czech won the 2014 title in the Dutch port city beating Cilic, while back in 2011 Tsonga lost to Swede Robin Soderling in the final.

Berdych also beat Tsonga in the first week of the year in Doha, but was badly mauled by Roger Federer at the Australian Open third round, which he cannot put out of mind.

"It's hard to accept a third-round loss at a Grand Slam," the 13th-ranked Berdych said. "That made my start of the season tougher.

"I've played well in Australia over the last few seasons and now I'm the guy chasing, I have to make it up at other tournaments, that's what I'm missing this year.

Berdych lost just five points on serve as he overwhelmed Klizan.

"Tsonga is a great player, another tall guy trying to play aggressive," said Berdych.

"But the most important thing will be my game plan and how I execute it. It doesn't matter whom the opponent is."

Berdych has now reached the semi-finals in Rotterdam for a fourth time after also finishing runner-up to Stan Wawrinka in 2015.

Tsonga characterized his winning effort over Cilic as "a good match".

"I played some of my best tennis. If I keep playing like this I have possibilities to go further, I have my chances now to go to the final again."
Cilic reached his first quarterfinal of 2017 Thursday when he overcame Croatian compatriot Borna Coric 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, while Berdych hit 10 aces to defeat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
Belgian third seed Dàvid Goffin earned a comeback win over Robin Haase, the last Dutchman in the field, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Second seed Dominic Thiem defeated Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) as the top five seeds all reached the last-eight.

Fifth seed and last weekend's Sofia champion Grigor Dimitrov put out Denis Istomin — the shock conqueror of Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open — 7-6 (9-7), 6-1. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.