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Fed Express to slug it out with Novak in Swiss Open final
Gstaad, July 13: Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Roger Federer clinched his place in the final of the Swiss Open for the first time on Saturday (July 12) when he overcame tough second set resistance by fourth-seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio to win 6-1 7-6 (8-6).
Gstaad, July 13: Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Roger Federer clinched his place in the final of the Swiss Open for the first time on Saturday (July 12) when he overcame tough second set resistance by fourth-seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio to win 6-1 7-6 (8-6).
Federer, Switzerland's hero after his Wimbledon win, will meet third seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic, the 2001 Swiss champion, in Sunday's final.
Federer, 21, whose Wimbledon triumph took him to the top of the ATP Champions Race, cruised through the first set with some excellent serving on the outdoor clay court, but struggled in the second when Gaudio fought boldly to survive.
In five previous attempts in Gstaad, Federer has been eliminated four times in the first round and once in the second, but this time he oozed confidence.
Gaudio, the ATP tour's top claycourt player, saved four successive break points in the 11th game of the second set before hanging on to his serve to lead 6-5, but the effort took its toll in the heat.
Federer, finding fresh reserves of energy, served to level at 6-6 and then battled through a tight tie-break, including a controversial unsuccessful protest over a line-call, to complete his 16th straight win since April 4.
Backed by the partisan Gstaad crowd basking in hot sunshine, Federer shrugged the incident aside and, displaying cool and concentration amid much whistling and jeering, clinched victory when Gaudio netted another of his formidable serves.
Gaudio's fightback produced more baseline rallies, but Federer was able to cope with the change of style after serving and volleying in the first set.
Afterwards Federer said of Sunday's final against Jiri Novak: "It's going to be a tough match. You know Jiri has won the title here a few years ago. And me, you know, I have never really played so well like this week. But I've changed my game a little bit, I'm coming more to the net, I'm playing more aggressive, especially on my own serve and we'll see how Jiri's going to return my serve tomorrow."
Novak clinched his place in the final when he beat compatriot and doubles partner Radek Stepanek, the eighth seed, 7-5 6-1 earlier in the day. In hot conditions on the outdoor clay court in the Alpine resort village, third seed Novak produced solid if unspectacular tennis and took full advantage when eighth seed Stepanek struggled with his serve.
Novak, 28, the more experienced of the pair, will meet Wimbledon champion and top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland in Sunday's final. Novak and Stepanek traded service winning games and breaks throughout the opening set before the senior man, four years older than his compatriot, broke for a 5-3 lead.
Stepanek, who has risen from 547th in the rankings 18 months ago to 40th in the current ATP Champions Race placings, broke back immediately to make it 5-5, but was then outplayed and broken again to concede the first set.
In the second Stepanek, who had beaten Novak earlier this year in Milan in their only previous meeting, slumped to 3-0 down before taking a medical 'time out', calling on his physio and receiving treatment for a hand injury.
Novak completed his win with some comfort, dropping only one game as Stepanek varied his serve and concealed slower deliveries. Novak said he had wanted to defend his title last year, but turned back when he was already in the airport with his family because he felt himself suffering from influenza symptoms.
Bureau Report
Federer, finding fresh reserves of energy, served to level at 6-6 and then battled through a tight tie-break, including a controversial unsuccessful protest over a line-call, to complete his 16th straight win since April 4.
Backed by the partisan Gstaad crowd basking in hot sunshine, Federer shrugged the incident aside and, displaying cool and concentration amid much whistling and jeering, clinched victory when Gaudio netted another of his formidable serves.
Gaudio's fightback produced more baseline rallies, but Federer was able to cope with the change of style after serving and volleying in the first set.
Afterwards Federer said of Sunday's final against Jiri Novak: "It's going to be a tough match. You know Jiri has won the title here a few years ago. And me, you know, I have never really played so well like this week. But I've changed my game a little bit, I'm coming more to the net, I'm playing more aggressive, especially on my own serve and we'll see how Jiri's going to return my serve tomorrow."
Novak clinched his place in the final when he beat compatriot and doubles partner Radek Stepanek, the eighth seed, 7-5 6-1 earlier in the day. In hot conditions on the outdoor clay court in the Alpine resort village, third seed Novak produced solid if unspectacular tennis and took full advantage when eighth seed Stepanek struggled with his serve.
Novak, 28, the more experienced of the pair, will meet Wimbledon champion and top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland in Sunday's final. Novak and Stepanek traded service winning games and breaks throughout the opening set before the senior man, four years older than his compatriot, broke for a 5-3 lead.
Stepanek, who has risen from 547th in the rankings 18 months ago to 40th in the current ATP Champions Race placings, broke back immediately to make it 5-5, but was then outplayed and broken again to concede the first set.
In the second Stepanek, who had beaten Novak earlier this year in Milan in their only previous meeting, slumped to 3-0 down before taking a medical 'time out', calling on his physio and receiving treatment for a hand injury.
Novak completed his win with some comfort, dropping only one game as Stepanek varied his serve and concealed slower deliveries. Novak said he had wanted to defend his title last year, but turned back when he was already in the airport with his family because he felt himself suffering from influenza symptoms.
Bureau Report