Andrei Pavel advanced to his second BMW Open final after ousting local hero
and No. 4 seed Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4 in a high-quality 2-hour, 47-minute
tennis thriller. The German took an early 3-0 in the first set before Pavel won
9 of the next 11 games. At 5-3 in the second set Pavel had a match point on
Haas’ serve but the German stayed in the match. Pavel served for the match twice
in the second set, at 5-4 and 6-5, but Haas managed to break back both times and
comfortably won the tie-break. Pavel then opened up a 4-0 lead in the third set
but Haas fought back to 4-5. But Haas then lost his serve for the seventh time
and also the match. Haas converted 6 of the 15 break points held, Pavel managed
to win 7 of 11.
Top seed David Nalbandian disposed the challenge from Finnish qualifier Jarkko
Nieminen 6-3, 6-0 in 59 minutes. Nieminen started the match by breaking
Nalbandian but the Argentine broke right back and then started his dominance.
The Finn held serve only once in the match, and broke Nalbandian on two
occasions. Nalbandian won the last seven games of the encounter, letting
Nieminen win only 11 points in the second set. The Argentine used the chances he
got on Nieminen’s serve to perfection, winning 6 of 7 break points.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Nalbandian: “I’ve been playing very good since the second round. The first round
here was very tough, I didn’t feel very well. But now I have been playing better
and better for every match.”
About the final: “Andrei is always tough to play. He plays great tennis so I
have to be careful. But I like clay courts and the altitude here makes the ball
go faster and I like that.”
Pavel: “Tommy made two easy mistakes with his forehand at the end, which put me
into the final. It was such a rollercoaster match, I don’t even want to think
more about it… I’m in the final and I’m very happy.”
About the final: “It’s great to be in the final in any tournament on this level.
I’ve been struggling in the beginning of the year with a frew injuries and being
sich a few times. I’ve lost some close matches so it’s good to come back and to
be in a final in Germany. I live in Germany, not here in the south, but the
people know me.”
FINAL PREVIEW: TOP SEED NALBANDIAN TO FACE PAVEL IN BMW OPEN FINAL
In today’s final of the BMW Open by Credit Suisse, top-seed David Nalbandian and
No. 5 seed Andrei Pavel meet for the second time. Pavel won their only previous
encounter in Gstaad back in 2002.
35 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race Points, €44,100, and a brand new BMW Z4 are up for
grabs for the winner of the final.
23-year-old Nalbandian is looking for his third career title contesting his
tenth ATP final. He is playing in his first tournament since the NASDAQ-100 Open
in Miami and is making his first final appearance in 2005.
Pavel plays in his first title match since losing the ATP Masters Series final
in Paris in 2003. He is seeking his fourth crown today, playing in his seventh
ATP final. The 31-year-old Romanian will try to go step further than in 1999
when lost the BMW Open final to two-time Munich winner, Franco Squillari.