Florian Mayer relaxed agead of ATP Munich final against Nikolay Davydenko
German No. 1 Florian Mayer will contest the final of the BMW Open in Munich for the first time after defeating countryman Philipp Petzschner 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Bayreuth native saved five of the six break points he faced and lost just eight points behind his first serve to claim victory – his third in three meetings with Petzschner - in 73 minutes. Mayer had never previously won a match in three appearances in Munich, but is through to the final now after losing just one set in four matches.
“I think I played one of my best matches of this year,” declared Mayer. “I played really well, especially my serve was working really good; that was the key today.”
The No. 35-ranked Mayer is through to his fourth ATP World Tour final and will look to win his first title after runner-up finishes in Sopot from 2005-2006 and in Stockholm last year. He has made a strong start to the season, compiling a 19-10 match record highlighted by semi-final showings in Sydney (l. to Troicki) and Zagreb (l. to Berrer).
“I go into the final relaxed,” said Mayer. “I know it is a good chance to win my first title, but I have nothing to lose tomorrow.”
In the final Mayer will face seventh-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who was leading 6-3, 4-0 when his opponent, Radek Stepanek, was forced to retire with a left leg injury. Ironically, it was Davydenko who had overcome an earlier injury scare, when he twisted his ankle in the second game.
Mayer and Davydenko are tied at 2-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head, with Mayer winning their most recent clash in four sets in the first round of the Australian Open.
“I’ve already played so many finals, I have 20 titles, and I’m really happy to play another one, especially a second final here,” said Davydenko. “Playing against a German player in Germany, it won’t be easy. He has the crowd support and he will play 100 per cent. I hope tomorrow I will play better than today, and that my foot will be OK so I can also play at 100 per cent.”
Former World No. 3 Davydenko is looking to win the Munich title for a second time, after triumphing in 2004 with victory over Martin Verkerk. The Russian is through to his second ATP World Tour final of the season, following a runner-up finish to Roger Federer in Doha in the opening week, and will look to win his 21st ATP World Tour title.
