BANGKOK: Top seed Tomas Berdych and number three Milos Raonic both battled through for three-set wins to set up a final at the Thailand Open today.
Berdych struggled for nearly three hours before finally defeating Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 7-5. Raonic put out defending champion Richard Gasquet in the second loss of the day for France, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
The Canadian winner hammered 23 aces in a fightback lasting for just under two hours.
Czech Berdych had his troubles with the game of the 14th-ranked Simon, 2012 losing finalist.
Berdych is looking for his first title since Stockholm last October -- he is currently the lone member of the ATP top 10 without a trophy this season. Raonic owns four career trophies - three of them won indoors in the now defunct San Jose event.
Berdych beat Raonic in their only previous meeting.
Berdych lost the opening set after 74 minutes against Simon, known for long matches and extended passages of play.
After being treated on court for back pain on Friday, Simon did not use his courtside chair during changeovers in the Berdych match.
“It was a very tough match and very tight at the end,” said Simon, the 2009 champion.
He added: “I played well in the beginning and then Thomas was very strong coming back in the second set and ultimately was too good in the end.” AFP
