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HAMBURG, May 20: Radek Stepanek, the world number 16 from the Czech Republic, reached only the second Masters Series final of his career when he beat Jose Acasuso of the Argentine 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in an absorbing encounter here on Saturday.
It was also Stepanek's first Masters Series final on clay, an achievement which caused him to perform a spectacular swallow dive in the dirt, enjoying every moment of soiling his kit. The victory ensures that Stepanek will reach the world's top ten for the first time.
Stepanek brandished a fist when he held serve to reach 5-3 but, not for the first time, he found it difficult to serve out for the set, requiring three deuces to do it.
He held an advantage point on Stepanek's serve, with a chance of making a forehand pass from well inside the baseline, but unaccountably netted it.
After missing that chance the pressure mounted upon him as the possibility of defeat came closer. When Stepanek produced some superbly mobile defence to make a mini-break in the tie-break it looked all over.
But once again the Czech's uncertainty when trying to close things out manifested itself, and briefly Acasuso had a chance to escape.
From 2-5 he inched back to 5-5 with the help of a Stepanek double fault, but two perfectly spread backhand drives, the second hurtling for a winner down the line, earned Stepanek another mini-break and the match.
Results (semifinals): 8-Tommy Robredo (Spain) beat 12-Mario Ancic (Croatia) 7-5 6-4; 15-Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat Jose Acasuso (Argentina) 6-4 7-6(5).
SAFINA IN FINAL
ROME: Dinara Safina struggled through a final set lasting more than an hour before finally defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 at the Rome Masters on Saturday to reach her first final in more than a year.
The 16th-seeded Safina, sister of Marat Safin, moved to within one victory of giving Russia a sixth title from six WTA Tier I events this season.
After winning the all-Russian struggle, Safina will face a stern test Sunday on the clay of the Foro Italico.
She will aim for the title against the winner from a pair of former Grand Slam champions in Venus Williams and Martina Hingis.
Kuznetsova was Safin's third high-profiel victim this week after knocking out former winner Kim Clijsters and defeating two-time Grand Slam finalist Elena Dementieva in the quarters.
Safina played — and won — her last final on May 15 last year, defeating Czech Zuzana Ordraskova to claim the Prague title.
Results (semifinals):
Martina Hingis (Switzerland) beat 9-Venus Williams (U.S.) 0-6 6-3 6-3; 16-Dinara Safina (Russia) beat 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 3-6 6-4 7-5—Agencies
