Top-seeded American James Blake booked his berth in the final of the US Men's Clay Court Championship Saturday with a straight-sets victory over eighth-seeded Oscar Hernandez. Blake, 28, defeated the Spaniard 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to give himself a chance to add a first career clay court title to the 10 singles titles he has claimed on other surfaces.
"The way I'm playing I feel pretty good and I haven't dropped a set yet," Blake said. "I have adjusted to clay very well and I feel good. I just want to continue to play my game." Although he has never won a title on clay, Blake clearly had the edge in experience on Saturday, and the same will be true in the final.
Blake will take on seventh-seeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers-Pujol, who had never before reached an ATP semi-final. Granollers-Pujol made his first appearance in the final four a successful one with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over American Wayne Odesnik.
"I served really good after I was down 5-3 in the second set," said Granollers-Pujol, who saved four of six break points he faced in the match. He said he felt no ill effects of playing in Saturday's doubles final, in which he and partner Pablo Cuevas fell to Ernests Gulbis and Rainer Schuettler.
"I am very happy to be in both finals," he said. "I feel OK, and when you win you don't feel tired. I started to play better in the second set and in the third set I played very good." Blake, the world No 8, improved his career record on clay to 35-34 with Saturday's victory. He is 16-7 over his eight appearances at this tournament, including a trip to the semi-finals last year.
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