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Berdych reaches Halle final again

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HALLE, Germany -- Tomas Berdych reached the final of the grasscourt event in Halle for the second successive year after Saturday's semifinal win over Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

The Czech served up seven aces to Nieminen's four and needed just one hour and 24 minutes to progress 7-6 6-4.

He will meet Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in Sunday's final after the eighth seed beat German number two Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 6-4 in the second semifinal.

Baghdatis, a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, was under pressure throughout the first set as Kohlschreiber started strongly.

But the German failed to capitalize after missing two breakpoints when he had his opponent on the ropes in game nine.

The set went to a tie-break and a bad forehand miss from Kohlschreiber set the tone as Baghdatis broke three times to take it 7-1.

The 23-year-old Kohlschreiber, who won his first ATP tournament in Munich this year, had chances in the second set too but once again Baghdatis was too good for him on the crucial points.

The Cypriot came from 0-40 down to hold serve in game six and then broke Kohlschreiber in the next to set up victory in one hour 40 minutes.

Relishing chance

Having lost to world number one Roger Federer in the 2006 final, Berdych was relishing the chance to contest Sunday's final and says he is hoping to go one step further.

"Of course I am very pleased to reach the final," he said, "It was a bit of a surprise to reach the final last year, this year I was hoping to do the same, I just hope I can do one step further."

After Federer withdrew on Monday morning, citing fatigue and a groin strain, Berdych admitted the absence of the grass court king - who has an incredible 48 consecutive wins on the natural surface - has given everyone else a chance.

"It has been a big chance for everyone else with Roger missing," said Berdych. "He has won here four times and he is so hard to beat, now it's an advantage for the rest of us.

"I was supposed to meet him in the semifinals, but his withdrawal has given me an easier time."

Berdych, 21, battled to win the first set on a tie-break by seven points to five but the world number 13 was broken as Nieminen took a 4-2 lead in the second set.

But he broke back to level at 4-4 and after holding his own service broke again to seal victory.

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