Verdasco, Berlocq to decide Swedish Open championship

BASTAD, Sweden, July 13 (UPI) -- Eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain prevailed over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov Saturday in an epic semifinal match at the Swedish Open.

Verdasco outlasted the fifth-seeded Berlocq 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-5 and claimed a berth in Sunday's championship match against Carlos Berlocq of Argentina, who had an easier time in his 7-5, 6-3 semifinal win over Thiemo de Bakker of The Netherlands.

Verdasco has not won on the ATP Tour since 2010, but he was a quarterfinalist at the Eastbourne tuneup for Wimbledon. He lost to eventual champion Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

Berlocq won 70 percent of his first-serve points against De Bakker and half of his return points.