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Kiefer to clash with Federer in Halle Open final
Halle, June 15: Nicolas Kiefer and world number five Roger Federer will meet in the final of the Halle Open in Germany after both came from behind to win their semifinals.
Halle, June 15: Nicolas Kiefer and world number five Roger Federer will meet in the final of the Halle Open in Germany after both came from behind to win their semifinals.
Local favourite Kiefer produced a stirring comeback in Halle on Saturday (June 14) to beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement 4-6 7-6 6-4 and reach the final for the second consecutive year.
The two hours 48 minutes contest ended on a dubious call as Clement's forehand was called wide, but Kiefer had no doubts.
Despite being engaged in a three hour 22-minute marathon against Karol Kucera in the previous round, eighth seed Clement showed no signs of fatigue in the early stages.
After saving five break points at 2-2, the Frenchman broke Kiefer in the ninth game and served out for the opening set. Both players saved break points early in the second set as it headed for a tiebreak.
Twice Clement led by a mini-break, but Kiefer, playing more aggressively, hit back to snatch it 7-4 and level the match.
That knocked the strength out of Clement's legs and after breaking in the opening game of the decider, Kiefer held on to serve for the match at 5-4.
The German double-faulted on his first match point and mishit the ball long on his second before clinching victory when Clement's forehand went wide.
Federer came back from the brink of defeat to claw his way past Russian Mikhail Youzhny 4-6 7-6 6-2.
The top-seeded Swiss was just three points from defeat in the second set, but dug deep to edge out Youzhny and move into his first ATP grasscourt final.
Youzhny, beaten by Federer in the quarter-finals at Halle last year, was looking for revenge and began ominously, passing at will. One break, in the third game, proved enough to give him the first set.
Federer came out firing in the second set and charged to a 5-2 lead by finding acute angles. But he played his worst game of the match when serving for the set at 5-3 and was duly broken.
Games stayed on serve to force a tiebreak, which Federer led 3-0. Youzhny hit back for 4-4 only to miss a golden opportunity to pass for a winner. Sensing his chance, Federer then won the next two points to level the match.
The top seed, looking for his fourth title of the year, grabbed the advantage in the deciding set when he broke in the opening game.
After saving a break point on his own serve at 2-1, he then broke again two games later and held on for victory.
Bureau Report
Twice Clement led by a mini-break, but Kiefer, playing more aggressively, hit back to snatch it 7-4 and level the match.
That knocked the strength out of Clement's legs and after breaking in the opening game of the decider, Kiefer held on to serve for the match at 5-4.
The German double-faulted on his first match point and mishit the ball long on his second before clinching victory when Clement's forehand went wide.
Federer came back from the brink of defeat to claw his way past Russian Mikhail Youzhny 4-6 7-6 6-2.
The top-seeded Swiss was just three points from defeat in the second set, but dug deep to edge out Youzhny and move into his first ATP grasscourt final.
Youzhny, beaten by Federer in the quarter-finals at Halle last year, was looking for revenge and began ominously, passing at will. One break, in the third game, proved enough to give him the first set.
Federer came out firing in the second set and charged to a 5-2 lead by finding acute angles. But he played his worst game of the match when serving for the set at 5-3 and was duly broken.
Games stayed on serve to force a tiebreak, which Federer led 3-0. Youzhny hit back for 4-4 only to miss a golden opportunity to pass for a winner. Sensing his chance, Federer then won the next two points to level the match.
The top seed, looking for his fourth title of the year, grabbed the advantage in the deciding set when he broke in the opening game.
After saving a break point on his own serve at 2-1, he then broke again two games later and held on for victory.
Bureau Report