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Federer, Roddick in dream final
Defending champion Andy Roddick set up a dream final against world number one Roger Federer by beating Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 7-5, 6-3 at the Toronto Masters on Saturday. Federer rallied to knock out Swede Thomas Johansson 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 earlier in the day, the Swiss player's 22nd victory in a row. Second seed Roddick is also on fire, his only defeat in 22 matches being inflicted by Federer in the final of Wimbledon at the start of this month. "It's gonna be great," Roddick told reporters. "I can't wait. "We seem to bring out pretty good tennis in each other. I owe him one from Wimbledon." It was a case of deja vu for Roddick and Kiefer, who also met in the final in Indianapolis last Sunday. That match was no contest as the American romped home 6-2, 6-3. Kiefer gave a better account of himself this time. He had the best chance to break early on but wasted a 40-0 lead with the scores level at 2-2. Roddick went 6-5 up on the strength of four aces before he wrapped up the first set when the German netted. The American had an easier time in the second set, which he controlled from the start. Roddick and Federer were put to the test on Thursday when both competitors had to play twice to make up for a near-washout on Tuesday. Federer said he felt really tired after his victory over Johansson. "I'm exhausted but trying to keep it going," said the Wimbledon and Australian Open champion. "I really hope I can win this tournament." Myskina makes final In San Diego, California, French Open champion Anastasia Myskina saved nine match points to outlast fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 in a thriller on Saturday to reach the final of the US$1.3 million Acura Classic. "I really wanted to win," Myskina told reporters. "I didn't think how I was going to win, I just fought for every point." The third seed now meets American Lindsay Davenport, who earlier in the day stormed into her third successive final by overcoming Russia's Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-4. Davenport, the fourth seed, beat Serena Williams last week to win the JP Morgan Chase title and Venus Williams to clinch the Stanford title the previous week. In a remarkable tussle lasting two hours 28 minutes, the volatile Myskina had to call upon all her reserves to down her Fed Cup teammate. The match featured frequent outbursts by Myskina, 23, aimed at her coach Jens Erlach. Zvonareva, 19, also twice clubbed balls over the stadium in frustration. Myskina saved the first match point at 4-5 when Zvonareva was wild with a backhand down the line. The third set tiebreak see-sawed back and forth, with both women coming up with amazing shots at crunch times. On five of the eight match points she warded off in the tiebreak, Myskina came up with winners, while Zvonareva also had to save four match points. "I thought I was going to lose," Myskina said. "I was controlling the match and then I lost control. "Vera was playing unbelievable. The weakest part of my game is in the head and I started to lose it." The 12th-seeded Zvonareva wept after the match but said she could have done little more. "I was playing my best and sometimes it just doesn't work," said Zvonareva. Davenport hurt her right knee in the second set against Dementieva but believes she will be fit for the final. Davenport also triumphed at Stanford, Carson, where the JP Morgan Chase is held, and San Diego in succession in 1998 before going on to lift the US Open. |
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