UPDATED 10.25 AUGUST 10
SINCE IT was announced that legendary tennis player Bjorn Borg was part of the line-up at the Vale do Lobo Grand Champions tournament, many hoped that he would reach the final.
But these hopes were dashed last night (Thursday) as Borg was defeated by Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in straight sets.
The match began on a light-heated note, with Meligeni giving Borg pointers on how to swing the racket but then when Borg hit a great shot that won him a game, Meligeni bowed to him. As the game progressed, it became clear that Meligeni was the stronger player and within two sets, he secured a place in the final, with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
Competition favourite Sergi Bruguera proved his worth against Anders Jarryd, beating him 6-1, 7-5, which means that Bruguera will face Meligeni in the final tonight.
Portugal’s Nuno Marques lost to Cèdric Pioline, 7-6, 6-2 and Thomas Muster defeated Ecuador’s Andrés Gomez in a nail biting match that went to a third set tie break.
Muster won the first set 6-3 but then lost 2-6 in the second. In the end, he came out on top with a 10-7 win in the tie break.
This evening, third and fourth placed Pioline and Muster will play each other at 6.30pm and a doubles match exhibition featuring Mansour Bahrami will provide light-hearted entertainment before the final at 10pm.
