Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to meet Tomas Berdych in semi-finals
Friday 17 February 2017 22:47, UK
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga knocked out top seed Marin Cilic to reach the semi-finals of the Rotterdam Open on Friday afternoon.
The 2011 runner-up will take on Czech Tomas Berdych for a place in Sunday's final after upsetting Cilic 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-5) in just over two hours.
Tsonga converted on his fourth set point in the opening set tie-break with a trademark forehand winner down the line before the big-hitting Frenchman took his opportunity in the second set tie-break to record his first win over Cilic since August 2011.
Fourth seed Berdych moved one step closer to his third final at the Rotterdam Ahoy by knocking out defending champion Martin Klizan 6-3 6-3.
"It was my best performance so far," Berdych told the official ATP Tour website. "It was a goal every match to try to improve. So far, I am very pleased. It's a good feeling to be in another [Rotterdam] semi-final, as I know I can play good tennis on this court. My own game will be extremely important tomorrow, as I will try to dictate from the very beginning. I need to be focused from the first point."
Third-ranked David Goffin booked his place in the last four with a 6-4 1-6 6-3 win over Australian Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov, while Pierre-Hugues Herbert shocked Dominic Thiem 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the final match of the day.
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