Print

Mail

wiki links

Win earns Federer fifth straight Dubai Open final place

Roger Federer beat Tommy Haas in straight sets on Friday to reach his fifth straight Dubai Open final.

The top-ranked Federer never lost serve in defeating the fifth-seeded German 6-4, 7-5.

It was the Swiss star's 40th successive victory. He is six wins away from Guillermo Vilas' all-time record of 46 straight, set in 1977.

Federer will next face Mikhail Youzhny, who reached his second straight tournament final by beating Sweden's Robin Soderling 7-5, 6-2.

Haas, who won last week's ATP tournament in Memphis without facing a break point, had an early chance to break Federer in the second game of the first set and again when he had three break points in the fourth game of the second set.

But Federer played efficient if not spectacular tennis to hold off the challenge. He broke Haas in the third game of the first set and 11th game of the second.

"It was extremely physical out there tonight," Federer said. "Lots of tough points and it was very tough to get the breaks."

The Federer-Youzhny final will be a repeat of last year's semi-finals and 2005 quarter-finals, which Federer won in straight sets both times.

Youzhny has never beaten Federer, winning only two sets in eight matches.

The unseeded Youzhny, who won last week's tournament in Rotterdam and upset defending champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals late on Thursday, showed no signs of weariness against Soderling.

Federer said it was good to see Youzhny find some form.

"He is a great practice player, he is famous for winning against every one in practice matches, but never manages to put it together in tournaments," Federer said. "So it is good to see him put some great results together, as he did in Rotterdam last week and here."
This story has been viewed 1363 times.