Klizan Saves 5 M.P. In Rotterdam, Sets Up Mahut SF

Martin Klizan saved five match points on Friday against one of the ATP World Tour’s most in-form players in 2016.

Klizan, who is currently No. 43 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, broke a four-match losing streak against sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut with a 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-0 victory in two hours and 44 minutes for a place in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament semi-finals.

Klizan saved two match points when serving at 4-5 in the second set, and then saved a further three match points in the next game on Bautista Agut’s serve.

“It was a very, very tough match. I was almost on the plane,” said Klizan. “I saved five match points, which is incredible. I am very happy that I won, breaking his four-match winning streak he had over me.”

Bautista Agut, who had won 13 of his past 14 matches, is a two-time ATP World Tour titlist this season, lifting trophies at Auckland (d. Sock) and Sofia (d. Troicki).

Qualifier Nicolas Mahut, who will appear in the ninth ATP World Tour semi-final, stands in the way of Klizan reaching his fourth title match. Mahut beat eighth seed Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-1 in 71 minutes.

“I played really great today, changing my tactics a little bit from when I played him in Sydney,” said Mahut. “Today, I didn’t want to press him too much and played from the baseline, a little bit slower. When Viktor has some targets he is really tough to beat.”

Mahut, the oldest player in the draw at 34, last reached the semi-finals of an ATP World Tour event during his ‘s-Hertogenbosch title run (d. Goffin) in June 2015. “Holland inspires me a lot, having gone through qualifying twice in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and won the title,” said Mahut. “I like the atmosphere and the court. I’ve had a great tournament so far.”