Post by Annie on Jan 13, 2006 11:58:42 GMT 3
Blake to play Andreev in Sydney final
SYDNEY (Reuters) - American James Blake will play Russia's Igor Andreev in the final of the Sydney International after both scored unexpected wins in Friday's semi-finals.
Blake upset Russian second seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 6-2 while Andreev ousted Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi 6-2 2-6 6-2.
Seppi staged a remarkable comeback to beat Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in Thursday's quarter-finals but was unable to repeat that performance against Andreev.
The unseeded Russian was leading 6-2 2-5 before rain delayed the match for more than three hours.
Seppi squared the match by winning the first game when play resumed but Andreev grabbed two early service breaks to runaway with the third set.
Andreev won three titles on clay last year to finish the season ranked 27th in the world but this will be his first final on a hardcourt.
"This is a new experience for me," Andreev told a news conference. "I've had a good preparation this season and I'm just trying to grow in my game.
"I just have to keep playing the same way I have been this week and give 100 percent."
Blake has beaten Andreev in their only two previous matches and the American will start as favorite in Saturday's final. The eighth seed's three titles have all been on hard courts, including two last year.
Davydenko made a flying start, breaking Blake early to establish a 4-2 lead but could not hold his own service for the rest of the match.
Blake won four games on the trot to take the first set and, despite dropping his opening service game in the second, his punishing returns proved too much for the Russian.
The women's final between Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium and Italy's Francesca Schiavone was scheduled for Friday night.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - American James Blake will play Russia's Igor Andreev in the final of the Sydney International after both scored unexpected wins in Friday's semi-finals.
Blake upset Russian second seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 6-2 while Andreev ousted Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi 6-2 2-6 6-2.
Seppi staged a remarkable comeback to beat Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in Thursday's quarter-finals but was unable to repeat that performance against Andreev.
The unseeded Russian was leading 6-2 2-5 before rain delayed the match for more than three hours.
Seppi squared the match by winning the first game when play resumed but Andreev grabbed two early service breaks to runaway with the third set.
Andreev won three titles on clay last year to finish the season ranked 27th in the world but this will be his first final on a hardcourt.
"This is a new experience for me," Andreev told a news conference. "I've had a good preparation this season and I'm just trying to grow in my game.
"I just have to keep playing the same way I have been this week and give 100 percent."
Blake has beaten Andreev in their only two previous matches and the American will start as favorite in Saturday's final. The eighth seed's three titles have all been on hard courts, including two last year.
Davydenko made a flying start, breaking Blake early to establish a 4-2 lead but could not hold his own service for the rest of the match.
Blake won four games on the trot to take the first set and, despite dropping his opening service game in the second, his punishing returns proved too much for the Russian.
The women's final between Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium and Italy's Francesca Schiavone was scheduled for Friday night.
Dreams unwind but still it's a state of mind,..I know - Dreams unwind but still it's hard to find - Stevie Nicks...“Marat Safin is a self-tortured genius. He's off the wall with tremendous physical talent. “John Mc Enroe
