Estoril Open News and Events

James Blake

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American James Blake advanced to his first clay-court final on European soil on Sunday, after beating second seed and former Estoril Open champion Nikolay Davydenko 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-3 in a rain-interrupted semi-final that was carried over Saturday due to bad light.

Blake will meet seventh seed Albert Montanes of Spain in the final at 3 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Blake and Davydenko resumed play at 12 noon on Sunday with Davydenko trailing 2-4 in the second set. The 27-year-old Russian fought back to level the score line at 5-5 before the set was decided on a tie-break.

Blake won the first and fifth points against serve, courtesy of a Davydenko backhand error and then a forehand volley winner on approach to the net. He quickly opened up a 6-2 lead and won the second set when Davydenko hit a backhand wide.

Davydenko managed to save one break point at 15-40 in the fourth game of the third set, with a couple of clever forehands that left Blake stretching outside the tramlines, but the 2003 titlist and 2006 and 2008 runner-up was unable to win the second break point as Blake secured a 3-1 lead.

Davydenko almost broke back in the next game, but Blake produced his A-game hitting a cross-court forehand winner on approach to the net that left Davydenko flailing. At 1-4, the World No. 11 found himself 0-40 down but won five straight points – closing out with successive forehand winners.

Blake made it 5-2 with successive aces and minutes later  booked a spot in his 23rd ATP World Tour final (10-12 record) with a service hold to 30.

Blake extended his winning streak to 7-0 over Davydenko, in the pair’s first clay-court meeting that last two hours and 26 minutes.

The 29 year old improved to 13-8 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season, that includes a semi-final exit at San Jose (l. to Fish).

Blake is the first American to reach the Estoril Open final since Todd Martin in 1999 (l. to Albert Costa). Last year, the World No. 16 finished runner-up at Houston (l. to Granollers) on a clay court.

Davydenko was attempting to reach his 20th ATP World Tour final (14-5 record). He was playing in his sixth tournament this year, following two months on the sidelines due to a left heel injury sustained at Chennai in January. The Russian dropped to 10-5 on the year.

Saturday: Montanes Reaches Final; Blake-Davydenko Delayed

Saturday: Rain Delays Play For First Time This Week

Friday: Montanes Upsets Simon, Davydenko To Face Blake

Thursday: Simon Into QFs; Blake Finding Form

Wednesday: Davydenko To Meet Fish; Ferrer Falls

Tuesday: Davydenko Safe; Ferrer Survives Fright

Monday: Nalbandian Wilts In Estoril's Heat

Sunday: Maximo Gonzalez Sole Winner On Day One