Agassi-Nadal Dream Final at ATP Montreal; Clijsters, Myskina Favorites in WTA Finals

Posted on August 14, 2005

Agassi, Nadal to Square Off in ATP Montreal Final

Masters Series-Canada organizers got their dream final in Andre Agassi versus Rafael Nadal -- now it remains to be seen whether Agassi has anything left in the tank to challenge the French Open champ.

On Saturday in Montreal Agassi was forced to play two matches due to rain, resuming a match with a 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 6 seed Gaston Gaudio, then dismantling the serve-and-stone-the-volley game of unseeded Brit Greg Rusedski 6-4, 6-4.

"I hope (the fans are) excited," Agassi said. "I don't get to be in too many finals any more. I'm certainly looking forward to it. Certainly, playing (Nadal) will bring out my best. I don't really have a choice."

The top-seeded Nadal weathered a 6-4, 7-5 challenge from unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who earlier in the week escorted Andy Roddick out of the event.

"I was a little bit nervous at the end, but I think is normal," said Nadal, who failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second, broken at love. "The important thing is that I got the win against a player that has been playing very good. I'm very happy to be in my fourth Masters Series final."

Nadal won Masters Series events in Rome and Monte Carlo on clay earlier in the year, and lost in the hardcourt Miami final to Roger Federer, who sat out this week to heal a foot injury.

It will be the career-first meeting between Agassi and Nadal.

"(Nadal) hits what seems to be a very mean ball -- hard for a lot of guys to do much with," Agassi said.

"He moves incredibly well. I'm going to have to pick my shots and play great tennis."

For Nadal the final will be a dream first-time meeting.

"I am very happy because I'll play against one of the best players in history," Nadal said. "This is the opportunity to play against one of the legends of tennis before he retires."

Rusedski had also played two matches on the day Saturday, earlier defeating Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-4 before falling to Agassi.

In doubles action, both finalists won two matches Saturday due to the rain-backed-up schedule.

Israel's unseeded team of Erlich/Ram defeating No. 3 seeds Knowles/Nestor 7-6 in the third and the No. 2-seeded Bryan brothers in three sets, and No. 4-seeded Zimbabweans Black/Ullyett beating No. 7 seeds Bhupathi/Damm, then ousting the top-seeded team of Bjorkman/Mirnyi in three.

Clijsters, Hantuchova in WTA Los Angeles Final

No. 9 seed Daniela Hantuchova took full advantage of a walkover in the quarterfinals against the injured Maria Sharapova, on Saturday upsetting No. 3 seed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final at the WTA stop in Los Angeles.

It is the first final for Hantuchova in more than a year.

Hantuchova displayed variety not normally seen on the WTA Tour, mixing drop shots and service variety, and racheting-up the baseline power to top the Russian known for her famously-shaky serve.

"I'm really excited," Hantuchova said after ousting Dementieva. "I feel like I had a great summer so far. I'm really enjoying it."

In the final the Slovak will face the hottest player of the U.S. summer series, No. 5-seeded Kim Clijsters who weathered spotty play to come back from deficits in both sets to defeat No. 13-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-4.

The Belgian trailed 0-2 in the first set, and 1-3 in the second before turning the tables on the power-challenged Italian, who hung in with some ear-splitting grunting and tenacious play.

Clijsters takes a career 6-0 mark against Hantuchova into the final.

Dementieva came back in the doubles semifinal, teaming with Flavia Pennetta to upset No. 2-seeded Spaniards Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1.

In the final they will face the late-night winner of the match between unseeded Chinese Ting Li/Tiantian Sun and wildcard Americans Angela Haynes/Bethanie Mattek.

Myskina Awaits Opponent in WTA Stockholm Final

Anastasia Myskina will get a shot at her first 2005 title Sunday in the final at the WTA stop in Stockholm, but will have to wait until Sunday for her opponent to be determined.

Myskina advanced to the final with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over unseeded Emilie Loit, and in the other semifinal No. 5 seed Katarina Srebotnik led No. 3-seeded Russian Vera Douchevina 6-0, 6-5 when rain suspended play for the day.

"It wasn't my best match that's for sure," Myskina said. "Because of Loit's style it's hard to play your best tennis."

While all-Russian finals were a staple on tour last year, with many of the top stars out with injuries, there have been none in 2005 with the return to semi-health of the Williams sisters and Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters.

"I'm hoping for a Russian final tomorrow," Myskina said. "There was a US Open final and a French (in 2004), so why not a Stockholm?"

Myskina has never previously faced her countrywoman Douchevina, and is 2-0 versus Srebotnik in tour meetings.

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