DOHA — Richard Gasquet, the world No. 10, raised hopes of a climb toward the top five during 2013 with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Nikolay Davydenko, the unseeded Russian, in Saturday's Qatar Open final. Second seeded Gasquet had trailed by a set and a break of serve and appeared to be on the way to defeat when he trailed 4-2 in the second set. But the Frenchman maintained a positive attitude and Davydenko, who took an injury time out for a hip problem in the final set, was denied a follow up to his earlier victories over David Ferrer, the top-seeded Spaniard, and Mikhail Youzhny, the fourth-seeded Russian. Tipsarevic to meet Agut World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and unseeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain set up a title clash in the ATP Chennai Open with hard-earned wins Saturday. The second-seeded Tipsarevic fought back after losing the first set to oust 23-year-old Aljaz Bedene of Slovania 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a semifinal that lasted two hours and five minutes. The 80th-ranked Agut, who knocked out top seed Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals, entered his maiden tour final by beating fifth seed Benoit Paire of France 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Tipsarevic, a losing finalist last year against big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, stayed on course to win his first Chennai Open title in his fifth appearance in the southern Indian city. “I knew I was playing well, but after a good start I took two steps backwards and just started pushing the ball,” Tipsarevic said of his loss in the first set. Agut continued his giant-killing run in the $430,000 season-opener as he overcame the loss of the first set to win the match. — Agencies
