Thomaz Bellucci is one of the most accomplished players on a clay court in men’s tennis, and the Brazilian lived up to that pedigree on Saturday in Quito, as he showed excellent resolve to recover from losing the first set to defeat Paolo Lorenzi in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Lorenzi was expected to be a tough proposition after the Italian had taken out the top seed Bernard Tomic in the quarter-finals. The sixth seed proved exactly that by taking the first set from the third seed as he was on the right side of three breaks. Lorenzi was serving well, with five aces and above fifty percent on both first and second serve in the first set.
In the second set, Lorenzi’s fine serving came back down to earth, and Bellucci found more and more opportunities. The breaks came and Bellucci tidied up his own service, losing just seven points in total on his serve, with most of them coming in a single game where Lorenzi forced break points. When the Italian failed to take those opportunities, Bellucci ensured he was not handed another. A battle in the final game of the second set, with Lorenzi serving saw Bellucci break for the set, and the advantage of serving first going into the final set.
In the final set the transition from Lorenzi’s dominating play of the first set, to Bellucci’s form of the second set culminated in Bellucci running away with the match in the third. Lorenzi managed average serving numbers, whilst Bellucci lost only two points in the entire set on his serve. The relentless pressure took its toll on Lorenzi and Bellucci secured the break, and the match.
He will face the winner of Victor Estrella-Burgos and Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final.
