Pablo Carreno Busta was almost home and dry - up a set and 5-0 - on Thursday, but was required to work for a further 70 minutes in a tense victory over Aljaz Bedene at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The Spaniard, the No. 10 seed this week, saw two match points come and go at 5-4 in the second set on Next Gen Arena at the Foro Italico, but he managed to regroup for the decider and complete a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 win in two hours and 37 minutes.
Carreno Busta will next challenge fourth-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic or Benoit Paire of France on Friday. Cilic leads Carreno Busta 2-0, including victory in this year’s Australian Open fourth round, and is 3-3 against Paire. Two weeks ago, Carreno Busta beat Paire 6-3, 6-3 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
The World No. 11 worked hard for the 55-minute opener, initially taking 2-0 and 4-2 leads, prior to Bedene coming within two points of 5-5. The Spaniard made the decisive breakthrough with consistent forehand depth, ending with Bedene striking a forehand down the line wide at 4-5, 30/40.
Carreno Busta swept to a 5-0 lead in the second set, with two powerful forehands that caught Bedene off guard in the second and fourth games. The 26-year-old served for the match at 5-2 and 5-4, but his confidence and reliable forehand faltered as Bedene won 16 of 22 points to recover to 4-5.
A good serve from Bedene and a nervous backhand, pushed long, saw Carreno Busta miss out on two match-point opportunities in the 10th game, but the Spaniard soon regrouped with a solid hold. In the tie-break, Bedene rose to the occasion for an incredible turnaround, finishing with a backhand drop shot winner.
Carreno Busta broke in the first and fifth games of the decider for a place in his second Masters 1000 quarter-final of the year (also Miami) and his 18th match (18-10).
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2LapCqD
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