Srichaphan to clash with Moya in the final

Robredo, listed 21 in the ATP rankings, got off to a flying start as he played an attacking game from the world go. After holding his serve with ease, he startled the thai by breaking him in the very second game as the latter’s forehand was erratic and first serves not on target.

The Spaniard was on a roll as he pounced on the off-colour Srichaphan to break him again in the fourth game. The defending champion, who had defeated Robredo in their only previous encounter in 2002 Stockholm event, made uncharacteristic unforced errors, including a double fault, to concede the break which put his rival on a 4-0 lead.

Serving to stay in the set after Robredo had held his serve in the sixth game, Srichaphan held his own comfortably for the first time. But that did not stop the Spaniard from taking the set on the next game.

Srichapahan improved on his serves in the second set and also the forehands, though it still lacked the high-level of accuracy, besides returning better. But yet again he found himself in trouble in the third game, conceding two break points before managing to save them.

Robredo came under some pressure with Srichaphan getting into his rhythm. The Thai came close to breaking his rival twice, in the sixth and eighth games as he won some big points, but still failed to convert the chances.

In the tie-break, Srichaphan shot into a 2-1 lead breaking Robredo’s serve, but surrendered the initiative with a double fault and forehand errors on his serves as the Spaniard raced to a 5-2 lead.

With Robredo serving 6-4, Srichaphan faced real threat to eliminatation. It was here he brought out his champion class as he came up with a brilliant passing shot that left Robredo stranded in the middle to save the first match point even as the crowd heaved a big sigh of relief.

After saving three more on serve, he found the vital break when Robredo hit his backhand volley out to trail 10-11 and forced him to hit his forehand wide to take the set.

The third set went closely and Robredo had a good chance when he held two break points against Srichaphan in the 10th game, but the latter managed to save them before breaking his opponent in the next.

The Thai No.1 produced a superb on-the-run forehand crosscourt and then a backhand down the line winner to hold two break points. Under pressure, Robredo tried for a inside out frehand which went wide.