Rothesay International: Cerundolo overcomes McDonald to reach final

Eastbourne (England), July 1 Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo overcame the Eastbourne rain and American Mackenzie McDonald to reach the final of the Rothesay International, here on Saturday.

The Argentine led McDonald 2-6, 7-5, 5-2 when the wet weather intervened on Friday evening, but he wasted little time in reaching his fourth tour-level final and first on grass when the action resumed on Saturday, advancing 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes.

Cerundolo, who has earned a career-best 27 wins this season, will continue the quest for his second tour-level crown when he meets second seed Tommy Paul or Frenchman Gregoire Barrere in the championship match later in the day.

Cerundolo won his only previous tour-level trophy on clay in Bastad last year.

The American McDonald was in control early in the semifinal with a 6-2, 4-1 advantage. But Cerundolo snapped back with four straight games and then won six consecutive games to take the second set and open up a 4-0 lead in the third.

McDonald snatched one break back in the deciding set before rain stopped play but was broken immediately when the action resumed on Saturday.