Photo: Tashkent Challenger
Marcos is through to his third ATP Challenger Tour final of the season after edging in-form Russian Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. 7-6(3), 6-4 Saturday in the semi-finals of the $125,000 Tashkent Challenger.
Speaking to the Tashkent Challenger media team afterwards, Marcos said: "I’m happy to be doing well in spite of the tough conditions against me. Basically the courts are fast and the balls are hard and it doesn’t suit my game. I’m happy that I’m winning matches, finding solutions to these problems and winning which is very good.
"I can tell you this is not my best tennis, the conditions are not in my favour. I’m just playing 45% of my game, but am happy that I’m learning to counter these conditions."
Tashkent Challenger Photo Gallery
Marcos prevailed in a tie-break following a break-less first set and, in a second set featuring five service breaks, was able to convert three of five break point opportunities to combat losing his own serve twice and seal victory after 94 minutes.
In the final, Marcos will face second seed Denis Istomin, who cruised past Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-3 to reach his first ATP Challenger Tour final of the season.
World No. 101 Istomin, who will face Marcos for the first time, reached a career-high ranking of No. 57 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings back in July following a quarter-final effort in Eastbourne and main draw appearances at Wimbledon, Bastad, Indianapolis and LA. The Uzbekistani also recorded a Grand Slam-best result at the US Open, where he defeated Brendan Evans and Nicolas Lapentti to reach the third round.
Looking ahead to the match, Marcos commented to the media team at the Tashkent Challenger: "Denis is a good player and has played grand slams this year. I’m playing him at home and he knows the conditions well and the courts. If he has to win he has to play better than me tomorrow, as I’m going to give everything I have."
Marcos is challenging for his third ATP Challenger Tour title since August, having triumphed in Vancouver and St. Remy with victory over Xavier Malisse in both finals.
The match will take first on Center Court on Sunday morning, with play beginning at 11 a.m. (GMT +5hrs). You can follow live scores of the match here.
Go, Marcos!
