Dudi Sela takes on top seed Thomaz Bellucci later this afternoon for a place in the final of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals.
Sela upped his game in his final round-robin match to take out Matthias Bachinger 6-2, 6-2 and seal his place in the last four. After an insipid performance the day before against Portugal's Rui Machado, Sela turned things around in fine style, breaking four times to outplay the world number 109.
"It was a good match again, like my first game [against Stebe]," Sela said. "Yesterday I was really tired in the court and that didn't help, but I made my part and I’m happy to be in the semi-finals; hopefully I can make it to Sunday. The tournament has a really good level."
There was high drama later on in the day as top seed Bellucci hit back from the verge of defeat to beat Martin Klizan 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(7). Klizan had struggled all week but he rose to the occasion against the top seed and held match point in the decisive tiebreak before Bellucci eventually sneaked through.
"I had to fight until the end and luckily I could get through," Bellucci said. "I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning. Sometimes you're not on your best day and you need to find a way. The crowd really supported me and I used that good energy in the end."
Prediction: Sela in straight sets.
