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Lethal serves power Scud into third final since Wimbledon
Shanghai, Sept 28: Top seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic will face Mark Philippoussis in the final of the 380,000-dollar ATP tournament in Shanghai, after the Australian handily disposed of Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4.
Shanghai, Sept 28: Top seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic will face Mark Philippoussis in the final of the 380,000-dollar ATP tournament in Shanghai, after the Australian handily disposed of Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4.
Third seed Philippoussis needed only 67 minutes to overpower the 19-year-old Swede, reaching his third final since Wimbledon.
"I was serving huge today, and I was just trying to make him play," said Philippoussis. Although the gutsy and hard-hitting Soderling was outmatched, strong serves and ground strokes saw him off to a quick start, up 4-2 in the first set.
But Soderling, ranked 91st and playing in his first career ATP semi-final, failed to capitalise, losing the next four games and the set 6-4.
"I think he has a lot of potential, he's definitely got a lot of weapons," Philippoussis said of his opponent.
The Australian then dominated most of the second set despite momentarily losing his concentration in anticipation of today's final.
"I lost the timing in the second set ... I got it back but I was a little bit too tense and eager to make it to the finals," he said.
Of his next opponent he said: "He's a tough player who returns well. It's going to be a tough match, no doubt."
Novak downed Australian Wayne Arthurs, 6-7 (7/9) 6-3 6-2 to earn a place in the final, and a victory today would give the 27-year-old his second ATP tournament triumph this year, following his victory at Gstaad.
Bureau Report
Third seed Philippoussis needed only 67 minutes to overpower the 19-year-old Swede, reaching his third final since Wimbledon.
"I was serving huge today, and I was just trying to make him play," said Philippoussis. Although the gutsy and hard-hitting Soderling was outmatched, strong serves and ground strokes saw him off to a quick start, up 4-2 in the first set.
But Soderling, ranked 91st and playing in his first career ATP semi-final, failed to capitalise, losing the next four games and the set 6-4.
"I think he has a lot of potential, he's definitely got a lot of weapons," Philippoussis said of his opponent.
The Australian then dominated most of the second set despite momentarily losing his concentration in anticipation of today's final.
"I lost the timing in the second set ... I got it back but I was a little bit too tense and eager to make it to the finals," he said.
Of his next opponent he said: "He's a tough player who returns well. It's going to be a tough match, no doubt."
Novak downed Australian Wayne Arthurs, 6-7 (7/9) 6-3 6-2 to earn a place in the final, and a victory today would give the 27-year-old his second ATP tournament triumph this year, following his victory at Gstaad.
Bureau Report