Russell Defeats Widom, Goldstein to Face Bogomolov in Finals at Dellwood

Michael Russell and Tom Widom competed in a hard-fought quarterfinals match Thursday. 

The two best friends battled it out over two sets to play the winner of the Goldstein and Canas match in the semifinals.  Russell was favored going into the match, and he lived up to the expectations, defeating Widom 7-6, 6-3.

Widom gave Russell a run for his money in the first match, recouping a break and then holding his serve to come back from a 2-0 deficit and tie the set at 2-2.  Both players then held their serves, in what were quickly won games, to push the set into a tiebreak.  Widom won four in the break, however Russell held his serve all but once and broke Widom twice to win the set 7-6.

The second set went much more quickly, as Widom held his serve in the beginning, but could not break Russell.  Russell in turn held his serve throughout and broke Widom twice to win the set and the match 7-6, 6-3.  Almost as many jokes were thrown back and forth as shots between the players in the friendly but highly-competitive match.

Russell thoroughly enjoyed the match, saying "We're all good friends, we still play hard, but this is also a fun event for us."  Of his strategy against Widom, Russell looked to "focus on my service game so I can hopefully beat him on one of his.  He was taking so many chances and playing high risk tennis, fortunately it worked out well for me."  For the second set, he focused his game to make Widom "make more tough shots."

The strategy worked out well for Russell, who went onto play Paul Goldstein in the semifinals Friday.  Goldstein put up a good effort, but was the underdog going into the match.  He faced an especially tough time after his lengthy three set, tie-breaker match against Canas, which he won 6-1, 1-6, 7-6.  Goldstein did not look tired though and gave Russell a tough time in the first set.

Russell won the first two in the set, but then Goldstein evened the score and then took the lead, winning three games in a row.  The momentum was clearly in Goldstein's favor and Russell was having a lot of difficulty returning his shots.  Goldstein went up 40-0 in the next game, however Russell buckled down and brought it back to deuce and then won it on the second game point.  The two players held their serves on the next four games to leave it even at 5-5.  Russell then broke Goldstein with some very well placed shots after long volleys and then held his serve to win the set.

With the momentum now in his favor, Russell executed with some beautiful shots on the line to win four games to love before Goldstein was able to hold his serve on the fifth game.  Botth then held their serves in quick sets of no more than five volleys to conclude the set 6-2.  This won the match for Russell 7-5, 6-2 and set him up to face Alex Bogomolov in the men's final.

These two great competitors will face-off in what is sure to be an exciting match.  The finals take place today at 5:00, barring any rain delay.