Top seed Taylor Fritz is on course for a fourth Eastbourne Open title in six attempts after setting up a final against fellow American and lucky loser Jenson Brooksby on Friday.
Fritz overcame a second set stumble to beat Spanish sixth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 and close in on his second title of the grass court season after winning in Stuttgart earlier this month.
If the world number five was fully expected to reach Saturday’s final, Brooksby has been on a fairytale run since losing in straight sets to Aleksandar Vukic in qualifying.
FILE PHOTO: Jenson Brooksby of the US plays a return to Britain’s Daniel Evans on day four of the Eastbourne Open.
| Photo Credit:
AP
FILE PHOTO: Jenson Brooksby of the US plays a return to Britain’s Daniel Evans on day four of the Eastbourne Open.
| Photo Credit:
AP
The 24-year-old upset French fourth seed Ugo Humbert 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-4 to become the first lucky loser to reach the final in tournament history.
“I think it’s a lot less pressure when you don’t expect to be in the main draw and get the opportunity,” said 149th-ranked Brooksby. “You just want to make the most of it.”
Brooksby won his first ATP Tour title earlier this year as a qualifier in Houston, where he saved match point in three of his matches during his run.
“It means a lot to be back on stages like this, not just skill-wise but physically,” said Brooksby, who began the year outside the top 1,000 in the world.
“This is my favourite thing in the world to be back on these big stages in these big matches. I’m very happy to be playing again tomorrow.”
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com