Lopez upsets Berdych in Mercedes Cup

Feliciano Lopez of Spain advanced to the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, by upsetting third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.

Berdych failed to convert a double set-point opportunity in the first set with Lopez serving at 5-6, 15-40, but Berdych won the first-set tiebreaker.

Lopez, one of the few current players who likes to serve and volley, broke for a 4-2 lead in the second set, then broke Berdych’s serve again in the seventh game of the final set.

Berdych hit 21 aces to 19 for Lopez, but Lopez saved all nine break points against him on the grass court.

“I think my serve was working quite well in some important points, and that was probably something very important in today’s match,” Lopez said. “Also the way I play from beginning to end — I was trying to be aggressive; I was trying not to wait too much for going for the winner, because Tommy is a very aggressive player, and if you let him play, you might not have so many chances on that court, which is quite fast.”

Lopez’s semifinal opponent will be sixth-seeded Mischa Zverev of Germany, who recorded a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 39-year-old German Tommy Haas, who had defeated Roger Federer earlier in the tournament.

“Weird match, difficult match emotionally and mentally because Tommy’s last year on tour maybe, and playing him on grass is not easy,” Zverev said.

Fourth-seeded Lucas Pouille got past local favorite Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The Frenchman had lost to Kohlschreiber in their only previous career meeting, in February in Rotterdam.

Pouille’s semifinal opponent will be another Frenchman, Benoit Paire, who ousted Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-1, 7-6 (4).