ADELAIDE, Australia, (AFP) - French qualifier Michael Llodra has continued
his giant-killing run at the Australian Hardcourt Championship adding
American fifth seed Taylor Dent to this week's wins at Memorial Drive here.
Left-handed Llodra rode his strong serve and powerful returns into his first
ATP final humbling big-serving Dent 6-3, 7-5 in a semi-final.
Llodra will play another unseeded player, Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty in
Sunday's final.
Hrbaty accounted for sixth seed Jarrko Nieminen of Finland 6-4, 6-2 in the
other semi-final.
It was a watershed day for Llodra, whose previous success on the ATP circuit
have been confined to the doubles arena.
He and countryman Fabrice Santoro were ranked No. 5 in last year's ATP
doubles race.
"It is hard to play against Dent," Llodra said. "He puts a lot of pressure
on you and you have to be very confident. My returns and my passing shots
were very good today.
"When I arrived here I just wanted to play as many games as I could. I did
not know I would be in the final. Tomorrow will be a big day for me ... I
have nothing to lose."
Hrbaty's flawless campaign continued with a straight sets dismissal of
Nieminen.
Boasting an impressive 79 percent first serve percentage and dominating from
the baseline, Hrbaty comfortably accounted for his practice partner.
"Whoever makes the least mistakes will win the final," said Hrbaty.
"You can't panic in these situations. These days a big serve is a big
advantage but you also must have the baseline game. I just have to keep
putting the ball back low under his (Llodra's) knees or close to the line.
"It will be a mental game. Whoever is mentally stronger and puts less
pressure on himself will win the final."
Hrbaty and Llodra met once before in St. Petersburg in 2001. Llodra won
that first round match 6-3, 7-6.
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040110/323/ej33x.html
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