Nieminen Stands in Baby Gorans Way in ATP Auckland Final

No. 5-seed Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic again displayed his newfound confidence Friday at the ATP stop in Auckland, punishing unseeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1 to gain his fifth career final.

"The score may look easy but it was a very tough match," Ancic said. "First set we had a break, a re-break and a break again. In the second set as well he has some break points and I managed to save them. I think he played some really good tennis. I was happy with the execution of my game plan. I was pleased with the way I played with my aggression."

Ancic was cheered on by a large Croatian contingent in Auckland, support he will need in the championship match to reverse past nervous choking efforts that have led to a 1-3 career record in finals.

In the final Ancic will face No. 7 seed Jarrko Nieminen, who outlasted No. 6 Olivier Rochus 7-6 in the third.

Nieminen won his only career meeting with Ancic last year at Munich on clay.

The doubles final will be (1) Aspelin/Perry (d. Rochus/Rochus in the semis) vs. Pavel/Wassen (d. Vik/Zib).