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Legg Mason Tennis Classic ATP
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Qualifiers Draw
- Live Scores
e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open WTA
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Qualifiers Draw
- Live Scores
San Diego Mercury Insurance Open WTA
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Qualifiers Draw
- Live Scores
By Alberto Amalfi
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(August 7, 2010) Patrolling the baseline with quick steps and timing the ball with precision, Davis Nalbandian continued his resurgent run in DC dispensing his own brand of tennis capital punishment in thoroughly thrashing Marin Cilic, 6-2, 6-2. The Argentine wild card will face Marcos Baghdatis in a battle of brilliant ball strikers in Sunday's Legg Mason Classic final.

Nalbandian outclassed Cilic from the baseline in downsizing the 6-foot-6 Croatian, who started the year by reaching the Australian Open final. Nalbandian produced 14 winners and 12 unforced errors compared to six winners and 27 unforced errors for Cilic. 

"I think I played great," said Nalbandian. "I'm feeling good. I went too many weeks without hitting the ball, but I feel good now."

BaghdatisNatashaSLIDER

The eighth-seeded Baghdatis reached his first career final on North American soil in dismissing Xavier Malisse, 6-2, 7-6(4). Baghdatis raised his hard-court record to 23-8 — the third most hard-court wins on the ATP Tour — in reaching his first final since he defeated Richard Gasquet to win Sydney in January.

Trailing 4-3 in the second set, Baghdatis turned quickly and twisted his left ankle. He remained on the court for a moment, received an ice bag from a concerned Malisse and arose to complete the win.

"(It is) a bit of a strain, but I hope it will be fine," Baghdatis said of the final.

Former World No. 3 Nalbandian has seen his rank plummet to No. 117 after missing nine months last season due to hip surgery and suffering a hamstring injury this season that sidelined him for two and a half months. He has returned playing with passion and purpose.

"When you spend a lot of time off court you miss tennis, you miss the adrenaline of competing," Nalbandian said. "I know I have maybe three or four years left of playing top level tennis."

Playing his first ATP event since he lost to Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo quarterfinals in April, Nalbandian played inspired tennis tonight to reach his first final since capturing his 10th career title at the 2009 Sydney event.

Bidding for his first title on North American soil, Nalbandian will face a similar stylist in Baghdatis. Both men are stocky, superb shot makers adept at taking the ball early, ripping returns off second serves and creating court openings with convincing combinations.

The 25th-ranked Baghdatis has won three of four meetings with Nalbandian, famously fighting back from a two-set deficit to score a 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the 2006 Australian Open semifinals. 

"It's gonna be a tough one," Nalbandian said of the final. "He's a very good player. He is pretty similar to my game so it's gonna be a tough one."

Nalbandian lost the opening set to 13th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon before fighting back for a three-set quarterfinal win on Friday night. He buried a forehand into the bottom of the net in donating serve in the opening game tonight and faced two break points serving at 2-all.

Cilic had an opening, but Nalbandian slammed shut the door on any opportunity, reeling off seven consecutive games and nine of the next 10 in rolling into the final.

"I did not start good," Nalbandian said. "I returned good and I tried to keep pressing him."

 

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