Apr 23, 2016
Pouille, Verdasco into Nastase Tiriac final
Unseeded Lucas Pouille and former top-10 player Fernando Verdasco will meet in Sunday's final of the Nastase Tiriac Trophy. After eliminating second-seeded Ivo Karlovic in the second round, Pouille knocked out third-seeded Federico Delbonis 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday to reach his first career ATP World Tour final.
The Canadian Press
BUCHAREST, Romania - Unseeded Lucas Pouille and Fernando Verdasco, a former top-10 player, will meet Sunday in the Nastase Tiriac Trophy final.
Pouille, after eliminating second-seeded Ivo Karlovic in the second round, knocked out Federico Delbonis 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday to reach his first career ATP World Tour final.
The 22-year-old Frenchman saved all three break points he faced and got the decisive break in the second set after prevailing in the first set tiebreaker.
"The first set was tough and so was the end of the match," Pouille said. "In those moments you have some doubts and feel more pressure. I think today I was more solid in the important moments."
Verdasco defeated defending champion Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to improve to 7-2 against his fellow Spaniard.
Unseeded Verdasco, who is seeking his seventh career title, has not played in a final since 2014.