Top-seeded Nalbandian reaches Stockholm final

Oct 11, 2008 - 3:00 PM STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) -- David Nalbandian had little trouble reaching the final of the Stockholm Open on Saturday.

The top-seeded Argentine needed just 64 minutes to dispatch of Finnish third seed Jarko Nieminen, 6-2, 6-1, in one of two Saturday semifinal matches slated at the hardcourt event.

Nalbandian, who crushed seventh-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals, remains a strong favorite here considering he is the only top-30 player in the field.

Despite surrendering his serve for just the first time this week in the first set, Nalbandian hit back with six breaks of the Nieminen serve to extend his head-to-head lead over the Finn to 6-4.

Nalbandian has an 8-8 record in ATP finals and is bidding to win his second title this year after clinching the Buenos Aires trophy in February. He also finished runner-up at Acapulco the following week.

"I think I played a great match, didn't miss one shot in two sets," said Nalbandian. "I hope to play the same way tomorrow."

The world No. 7 will attempt to stay on course for his ninth career title when he faces either fourth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling who dismantled Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-0.

Nalbandian leads the head-to-head series 4-1, winning most recently at the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals on clay in April. He also won their only previous hard court matchup at Masters Series Madrid four years ago.

Soderling is through to his eighth career ATP final where he has a 2-5 record. It's his second final in Stockholm after finishing runner-up to Mardy Fish in 2003.

The 18-year-old Nishikori, who upset No. 8 Marcel Granollers in the opening round, had advanced to an ATP semifinal for the first since his remarkable title run at Delray Beach in February.

Nishikori upset top-seeded James Blake in the final of that event, becoming the first Japanese player since 1992 to win on tour.

First prize is $156,000.