Estoril Open News and Events

Roger Federer

© JLS

Roger Federer kept Estoril Open tournament director João Lagos and Portuguese fans on the edge of their seats Saturday afternoon.

The ATP World No. 1 made a slow start against World No. 104 Denis Gremelmayr before beating the German 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 for a place in the clay-court final.

Gremelmayr won the early exchanges from the baseline and broke the Federer serve in the first and seventh games of the match to take the opening set in 31 minutes. Federer won 19 points in total – 12 on serve, nine on return of serve.

Federer regained his confidence on a windy day at the Estadio Nacional and broke Gremelmayr in the second game. He looked on course to comfortably clinch the second set, but Gremelmayr broke back to trail 4-5.

However the pressure began to tell on the German, who was making his maiden ATP semifinal, and he was broken to love as Federer sealed the second set after 40 minutes. The Swiss won 21 of 27 points on serve.

While Federer saved one break point in the first game of the deciding set, the 26-year-old was not troubled thereafter. Gremelmayr won 10 points – four on return of serve.

Top-seeded Federer won seven games in a row – with breaks of serve in the second and fourth games - until Gremelmayr ensured Federer would have to serve out for a place in the 71st ATP final of his career.

Federer hit 10 aces in an encounter that lasted one hour and 34 minutes.

Afterwards he was presented with a cheque for €50,000 towards The Roger Federer Foundation by João Lagos.

In the final Federer will meet World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, the Russian who has enjoyed a stellar month of success that includes clinching his second career ATP Masters Series title at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Davydenko extended his winning streak to 11 matches with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over unseeded Frenchman Florent Serra in the second semifinal on Central court.

Serra, who beat Davydenko in the Amersfoort first round in July 2007, broke the 26-year-old in the opening game of the match but was immediately pinned back.

Davydenko secured breaks of serve in the second, fifth and seventh games to seal the first set in 30 minutes. Serra committed 16 unforced errors, while Davydenko – the 2003 Estoril Open champion - struck 10 winners.

When the Russian broke Serra for a 2-1 lead the World No. 101 created six break point opportunities in the following game without success.

His spirit broken Serra collapsed and Davydenko was able to improve to 24-5 this season – an ATP circuit-best mark – for a place in his third Estoril Open final.

Davydenko made his first appearance in 2001 and has captured the 2003 title (d. Calleri) and finished runner-up in 2006 (l. to Nalbandian).

Having admitted earlier in the week that he is physically and mentally tired, Davydenko could have his work cut out in recording his first career win in 11 meetings against Federer. They met three times in 2007, at Roland Garros, the US Open and Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai.

Federer is trying to win his 54th ATP career title in the 17th different country, the most among active players on the ATP circuit.

ATP Profiles: Roger Federer | Nikolay Davydenko | Head-to-Head