Unfancied duo into Channel final
Sunday, 9 March 2008Unseeded American Sam Querrey set-up a Tennis Channel Open final meeting with South African qualifier Kevin Anderson after seeing off world number 20 Guillermo Canas 7-5 6-2 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
After a close first set, 20-year-old Querrey dominated the second by winning 80% (12-of-15) of his first serve points and breaking Canas' serve twice.
The world number 66 also broke fourth-seeded Argentinean Canas three times in the first set to record his eighth win of the season.
'I played well and I was hitting my forehand well,' said Querrey, who won the only previous meeting in three sets against Anderson at the Sacramento Challenger last October. 'I have a great chance to win and hopefully I can. It would be a big confidence booster.
'I just had to be patient and he's a great defensive player and if you're going to come in you have to pick the right ball to come in. I was consistent and I thought I served very well.'
World number 175 Anderson rallied and advanced to his first career ATP final with a 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 victory over 25-year-old American Robby Ginepri, who was appearing in his third consecutive semi-final.
The 21-year-old former University of Illinois ace won the ninth game of the second set to love to snap a 4-4 tie and then broke Ginepri's serve in the 10th game to seal the win.
'I am very surprised to be in the final and, at the same time, I don't feel like I'm overwhelmed by the situation,' said Anderson. 'The biggest key for me is that I have the confidence to be playing at this level.'
