Haas and Nalbandian Show Vintage Form Reaching Finals at Halle and Queens Club

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: AFP/Carmen Jaspersen

(June 16th, 2012) Tommy Haas, who had a fine run at Roland Garros, continues to display the vintage tennis that took him all the way to No. 2 in the world at this week's Gerry Weber Open in Halle.

In his semifinal meeting against fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber, very little separated Haas from his opponent in the opening set as neither man faced a break point as each served their way into a tiebreak. But it was a lucky net cord winner for Kohlschreiber that gave him the first mini-break lead for 4-1. But Haas stormed back and eventually leveled things at 5-all. A missed backhand from Kohlschreiber gave Haas set point that he then converted with a big serve Kohlschreiber couldn't handle to take the set 7-6.

The serving battle continued in the second set with Kohlschreiber saving three break points against him. But with Haas serving at 71% for the match, Kohlschreiber could find no inroads into Haas's serve. Another netted backhand from Kohlschreiber gave Haas the first break of serve at 6-5 and from there Haas served out the match to love to win 7-6, 7-5.

Waiting for Haas in the final will be No. 2 seed and five-time champion of the event Roger Federer who took on Mikhail Youzhny, a man Federer had previously defeated 12 times in a row. After cruising through the first set, Federer was broken in the second set but it didn't affect the outcome of the match as Federer once glided into the Halle finals with a 6-1, 6-4 win.

"It's been a while since I won against Roger in 2002, said Haas afterwards referring to his last win over Federer in a five-set battle in Melbourne. "I will need the best support I can get tomorrow."

Haas will need the local support as Federer owns a comprehensive 10-2 record over Haas with their last match being the semifinals of Wimbledon back in 2009.

Cilic Outlasts Querrey to Reach Second ATP Final of Year at Queens Club

In gusty conditions at the Aegon Championships in London, No. 5 seed Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey battled the wind and their own nerves as they played the first semifinal of the afternoon.

Coping with the wind proved to be a key element of the match early as Querrey squandered nine break point chances in an error-filled, 20-minute game that saw Cilic finally hold serve for 2-1. That missed opportunity appeared to bother the American who later dropped eight straight points at the end of the set to allow Cilic to take it 6-3.

Querrey recovered by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second set but then gave the break advantage right back to Cilic. Querrey broke Cilic for 5-3 and then served out the set 6-3 to force a decider. But with Querrey's first serve percentage dropping to 52%, Cilic seized the momentum to open up a 4-1 lead. Querrey pulled to within 4-3 with the help of shanked forehand from Cilic down break point, but it was a badly executed drop shot attempt from Querrey down break point in the next game that gave Cilic the lead once more.

Cilic went ahead and closed out the match with a forehand volley winner to earn a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win and with it reached his second final of the year.

Cilic will meet in tomorrow's finals veteran David Nalbandian who despite playing two matches in a row yesterday looked quite fresh as he took on young Grigor Dimitrov. Once again the gusty conditions forced a number of breaks of serves between both men, but it was Nalbandian who squeaked by to take the first set 6-4.

A netted forehand by Dimitrov gave Nalbandian an early break of serve to lead 2-1 in the second set, but the Bulgarian, playing in his first ever ATP Tour semifinal, exhibited some deft touch of his own especially with a winning drop shot that gave him the break back.

But at 4-all, Nalbandian's experience proved the key as kept pushing Dimitrov in the extended rallies that often saw Dimitrov slip on the slick grass. Nalbandian showed off some touch of his own with a drop shot followed by a volley winner that gave him the crucial break to go up 5-4. Nalbandian then surprised Dimitrov by serving and volleying on several points in the final game. A netted backhand return from Dimitrov ended the match with Nalbandian winning 6-4, 6-4.

Nalbandian is now in his first final of the year and his first grass court final since reaching the finals of Wimbledon back in 2002.