Rio Open, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, ATP 500

[Billie]

again. NOOOOOO! And Pella is kicking Dominator's butt so far in the match.:spank2:

 

[britbox]

Ah, just woken up to a few surprise results and Dominic Thiem in the middle of getting a thumping from Pella... well @mrzz did warn us this match was not a formality. Is play suspended right now? I haven't had chance to tune in yet.

 

[Billie]

Ah, just woken up to a few surprise results and Dominic Thiem in the middle of getting a thumping from Pella... well @mrzz did warn us this match was not a formality. Is play suspended right now? I haven't had chance to tune in yet.

Yes, yes, yes to everything. I think Dominic welcomed the stoppage in play, Pella not so much. They are replaying Front's favourite match Rafa vs Almagro from round 2.

 

[britbox]

Too late for Dominic Thiem! Guido Pella has just wrapped this up in straight sets. Good call @mrzz

Pella beats Thiem 6-1 6-4 and will face off against the winner of Nadal and Cuevas

 

[Billie]

Pella dispatches of Thiem and earns himself a spot in the final. Didn't even realize when they resumed this match.

 

[britbox]

 

[Billie]

I thought that Dominic looked a bit tired, but congratulations to Pella on reaching his first final.

Rafa and Cuevas just started.

 

[britbox]

Nadal jumps out to a 3-0 saving break points on the way. Not a pretty match so far...

 

[Billie]

Rafa up a break, 3:0, looks like he wants to finish this quickly.

And Cuevas holds for the first time, at love.

 

[britbox]

Cuevas right back in this. Got to like that backhand

 

[britbox]

3-3... Pablo is getting great depth on all his shots - putting Rafa on the back foot.

 

[Billie]

Cuevas right back in this. Got to like that backhand

Yeah, Rafa can't seem to hold on to leads, he better be careful now. Cuevas is going to go for his shots.

Nice point.

 

[britbox]

Pretty rare to see Rafa coming off second best in cross court exchanges with a single hander on the backhand wing.

 

[Billie]

4 all. Let's see who's going to crack first. Looks like wind has died down, from what it was earlier today.

 

[Billie]

A tiebreaker to decide the first set.

 

[Billie]

I was just telling to my TV, don't double fault Rafa...and that's what he does, on a set point.:spank2:

Rafa wins the first set.

 

[britbox]

Not vintage Rafa!

 

[Carol]

I knew Pella went to be a tough opponent for Thiem, he is playing well
Meanwhile Rafa still is in limbo....:sleep:hard to understand why but I hope a second set faster
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!

 

[Billie]

This 3rd game in the 2nd set is taking forever. I was also reading something so I lost count of how many deuces they had.

 

[britbox]

Cuevas holds... eventually. Nadal being pushed all the way... big service game for Rafa here.