| Big-Serving Roddick To Face Giant-Killer Sela |
American second seed Andy Roddick (pictured) displayed more fine serving as he defeated German Bjorn Phau 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-1 at the China Open in Beijing on Saturday to reach his fourth ATP final of the season.
The big-serving Texas resident has now fired 56 aces in three matches this week, adding 16 more to the tally with his semifinal victory. Roddick’s dominance on serve ensured he did not face a break point throughout the 1 hr., 43 min., encounter, while he was able to capitalize on five of seven opportunities on Phau’s serve.
The 28-year-old Phau, who had not won an ATP-level match all season coming into Beijing, was looking to reach his first ATP singles final. The World No. 137, who knocked out defending champion Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals, drops to 3-3 for the season.
The right-handed Roddick can earn 35 ATP 2008 Race points with the title victory this week; at the start of the week he was in seventh place and trailed No. 6 David Ferrer by just eight points. The three-time Tennis Masters Cup semifinalist is bidding to reach the circuit finale for a fifth time.
The 26-year-old Roddick has titled twice this season at San Jose (d. Stepanek) and Dubai (d. Nadal, Djokovic, F. Lopez), and also finished runner-up at Los Angeles (l. to del Potro). On his Beijing debut he is bidding for his 26th title (11th on hard court) from his 40th final.
In the title match he will have a first time meeting with World No. 92 Dudi Sela, who continued his impressive run through the draw, recording his third straight victory over a seeded player to reach his maiden ATP singles final.
The 23-year-old Tel Aviv resident, knocked out No. 7 Rainer Schuettler 6-3, 6-3 to become the first Israeli player to reach an ATP singles final since Harel Levy at Nottingham in 2001 (l to T. Johansson).
The top-ranked Israeli, who has also defeated Nicolas Devilder, World No. 5 and top seed David Ferrer, and sixth seed Tommy Robredo this week, is bidding to become the first Israeli ATP singles titlist since Amos Mansdorf at 1993 Washington (d. Martin).
On Sunday, Roddick will look to continue his perfect 8-0 record in finals against players trying to win their first ATP titles.
Dudi SelaPlaying against World No. 35 Schuettler for the first time, Sela (pictured right) capitalized on four of seven break point chances, while only surrendering his own serve once, to wrap up victory in 1 hr., 9 min.
The 32-year-old Schuettler has enjoyed a career revival this season, rising up from No. 94 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings after a run to the Wimbledon semifinals (l. to Nadal). The 2003 Australian Open finalist (l. to Agassi) also made a quarterfinal exit at Kitzbuhel (l. to Melzer).
Sela now improves to 15-20 for the season, already a career best season record, up from his previous best of 10-5 set last year. Prior to this week, the 5’9’’ right-hander’s success had come on the ATP Challenger circuit, where he enjoyed a title victory in Vancouver and a semifinal appearance in Lexington.
He is hoping to become the ninth first-time ATP title winner this season, matching the achievements of Kei Nishikori (Delray Beach), Sergiy Stakhovsky (Zagreb), Sam Querrey (Las Vegas), Marcel Granollers (Houston), Victor Hanescu (Gstaad), Juan Martin del Potro (Stuttgart), Albert Montanes (Amersfoort) and Marin Cilic (New Haven).
