TENNIS ROUNDUP Johansson to meet Kiefer in final
Andy Roddick advanced to the final of the Lyon Grand Prix.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Second-seeded Thomas Johansson defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Saturday to advance to the final of the St. Petersburg Open.
The former Australian Open champion will face Nicolas Kiefer in today's final. The fifth-seeded German ousted Robin Vik of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4.
Johansson capitalized on Verdasco's two unforced errors in the eighth game of the first set for a break and the lead. The Swede saved one break point, but double-faulted to lose his serve in the eighth game and eventually lose the second set.
In the final set, Verdasco lost three straight points to slip to 30-40 in the eighth game. Although he saved a break point with an ace, the Spaniard double-faulted on deuce and Johansson's forehand down the line clinched his first win in six semifinals this season.
Generali Ladies
LINZ, Austria -- Fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder secured a spot in the elite WTA Masters field with a victory Saturday that put her into the final against No. 3. Nadia Petrova.
Schnyder ousted Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-2, while Petrova defeated Kveta Peschke 6-3, 6-4 in their semifinal match.
Swiss Indoors
BASEL, Switzerland -- Qualifier Marcos Baghdatis reached his first ATP tournament final by stunning second-seeded David Nalbandian, and will play Fernando Gonzalez for the title.
The 20-year-old Baghdatis beat Nalbandian 6-2, 7-6 (3) while third-seeded Gonzalez reached his fourth final of the year, taking No. 5 Dominik Hrbaty 6-0, 6-3.
Lyon Grand Prix
LYON, France -- Top-seeded Andy Roddick beat Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 7-6 (5) and will meet teenager Gael Monfils in the final.
Monfils beat Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 7-5 in the other semifinal. Roddick will aim for his 20th career ATP title. The former U.S. Open champion and two-time Wimbledon finalist is 55-13 this season.
Gaz de France Stars
HASSELT, Belgium -- Top-seeded Kim Clijsters overpowered No. 4 Dinara Safina to advance to the final against Francesca Schiavone.
Clijsters, the second-ranked player in the world, defeated Safina 6-0, 6-1 in their semifinal match, and Schiavone beat 16-year-old Michaella Krajicek 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.