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Updated Monday, February 8, 2010 11:00 am TWN, AP Gonzalez upset by Thomaz Bellucci in Santiago semisGonzalez, the top seed, was heavily favored to add to his 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009 Movistar titles. He'd won 11 straight matches at the Movistar since his last defeat in the 2007 quarterfinals. Gonzalez led 6-3, 4-2 but Bellucci reeled off five straight games. The Brazilian then broke for 5-3 and served out to love. "It was a very close match," third-seeded Bellucci said. "Fernando's game fell off in the third set and mine improved." Bellucci will appear in his third ATP Tour final on Sunday against second-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina. "Monaco will be tough, but I feel very good," Bellucci said. Monaco brought a convincing end to the surprising run of Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza 6-1, 6-4 in the early semifinal. Souza reached the last four in his first appearance in an ATP main draw. Monaco also advanced to the Movistar final in 2008, only to withdraw with an ankle sprain sustained in the doubles final the day before. The Argentine has made it to his 10th career ATP final, all on clay. Since Monaco's third and last title at Kitzbuhel, Austria in July 2007, he's been runner-up five times, including three last year. Monaco and Bellucci will meet for the first time. Bellucci won his first title last August at Gstaad, Switzerland. Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here |
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