Dubai: Back-to-back Dubai champion Michael Van Gerwen will look to get over an early wobble in the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters when he faces Adrian Lewis in Friday’s second semi-final at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
The World No.1 had to fight back from 4-1 down to win 10-8 in his opening game against Raymond Van Barneveld on Thursday.
Adrian Lewis meanwhile came back from 9-7 down to win 10-9 in a close contest with Stephen Bunting that saw the lead change five times.
Van Gerwen admitted he would need to improve if he is to continue his unbeaten run in the emirate and win a Dubai hat-trick.
“Everytime I had a chance to hurt him [Van Barneveld] I didn’t take it for some reason,” said Van Gerwen. “I let myself down and that shouldn’t happen, I shouldn’t allow mistakes in this tournament. It’s hard enough to win here [in Dubai] as it is with the heat and the wind. But at least I’m through to the next round.
“I want to win this tournament again so much, I hope I can do it, but there’s a long way still to go. Looking at everyone’s averages you couldn’t expect anymore from the quarter-finals, everybody will be on form for the semi-finals and the crowd will be out, it’s going to be great and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Adrian Lewis sounded upbeat before the semi-final after a gusty show in his first round win, which he found difficult due to the hot and breezy conditions with Dubai being the only outdoor event on the darts calendar.
“I don’t really care who I face to be honest, if I play like that I’ll win.
“I did well, under the circumstances it was the best I’ve ever played. Darts were going at angles I’ve never seen in my life.
“It was okay in patches, you’d have five minutes with nothing at all and then all of a sudden darts would fly in at funny angles.
“It’s all right when it’s blowing right as you can go left, the difference is when it blows back left. But it’s the same for every player. This is a big move in the right direction for me and I hope to prove I’m not just here to make up the numbers.”
