“Today I didn’t serve so well, but the most important thing is I was good in my mind and I’m very focused”, said Ferrer.
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The second-seeded Lopez won a serving duel with Nick Kyrgios, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), to advance to his second final of the season. The second set went fast but the third set was close. “After 5-4 with two, three insane points …”
Dimitrov was upset 6-4, 7-6 (3) by unseeded German Benjamin Becker, who takes on top-seeded David Ferrer in the last four.
The 2013 Kuala Lumpur champion defeated Dimitrov in their last meeting at the 2013 US Open. “I think I have to be proud of the way I played because he was really playing well today”.
“Tomorrow will be another tough game, but I will rest well and be prepared”.
Ferrer, 32, has a 24-25 record in career finals and will be appearing in his fourth championship match this year, having already racked up titles in Qatar, Rio and Mexico, in January and February.
“Feliciano came up with really good volleys in the match and it’s disappointing because I thought I could get rolling after a strong start”, said Kyrgios.
In other first round matches, qualifier Mischa Zverev of Germany won against Rajeev Ram of United States of America 7-6(2), 3-6 and 6-3.
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In the men’s doubles, Australia’s Rameez Junaid/Jonathan Marray of Britian, Frantisek Cermak/Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic, Austria’s Philipp Oswald/Canada’s Adil Shamasdin, Treat Huey of Philippines/Henri Kontinen of Finland and Eric Butorac/Scott Lipsky of United States of America advanced to the quarter-finals.
