Thomaz Bellucci has had a pretty easy time at the 2015 Geneva Open after only dropping one set to Marcos Baghdatis, but that has been about the only drama he’s encountered here. The world No. 60 also boasts victories over Denis Istomin, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Santiago Giraldo. Bellucci is 3-2 lifetime in ATP finals (3-1 on clay), while Sousa is 1-2 (0-1 on clay). Based on both finals experience and current from (Bellucci is 16-5 in his last 21 matches), a slight edge may go to the Brazilian.
Thomaz Bellucci reached his first ATP World Tour final in two-and-a-half years on Friday.
The 27-year-old Brazilian beat Colombian Santiago Giraldo for the fourth straight time in their seventh tour-level meeting 6-3, 6-4 over 71 minutes at theGeneva Open.
“This is my favourite place to play, actually,” said Bellucci. “The court condition for me, I like it. For my serve, it’s good as well. Maybe I feel very relaxed here.”
Bellucci is now 15-14 on the season and will next attempt to capture his fourth ATP World Tour title.
His last title match came in October 2012 at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow (d. Seppi), while he last lifted silverware in July 2012 at the Swiss Open Gstaad(d. Tipsarevic).
Bellucci will face Joao Sousa in their first ATP World Tour meeting in Saturday’s final after the sixth seed outlasted Federico Delbonis.
A week that began with Sousa’s first-ever showdown against Joao Souza could end with his first-ever title on clay. That will be the case if the world No. 50 can win one more match on Saturday in Geneva. So far this week he has taken out Souza, Jurgen Melzer, Pablo Andujar, and Federico Delbonis. It has been an eventful trek through the draw for Sousa, who opened against the guy with basically the same name, endured a heated controversy involving Melzer, and recovered from 6-2 down in a final-set tiebreaker versus Andujar.
Sousa needed one hour and 52 minutes to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The player from Portugal, who saved four match points on Thursday to beat third seedPablo Andujar, broke the Argentine’s serve to clinch the victory.
It is the fourth ATP World Tour final for Sousa (1-2 record) and his first since Metz in 2014 (l. to Goffin). He captured his maiden title in 2013 at Kuala Lumpur (d. Benneteau).
Cabal/Farah Reach Final
Second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah advanced to their second final this year after beating Alexander Bury and Denis Istomin 4-6, 6-2, 10-8. The Colombians won the title in Sao Paulo in February, their third team title.