After dominating the Spaniards, Sela dispatches Schuettler to reach first ATP final.
By ALLON SINAIdudi sela wins china semi 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Dudi Sela will look to become the first Israeli in 15 years to win an ATP title when he faces world No. 8 Andy Roddick in the final of the China Open in Beijing on Sunday.
The 23-year-old advanced to the title match on Saturday with a straight set, 6-3, 6-3, victory over German Rainer Schuettler (ranked 35th) and will be the first Israeli to play in an ATP final since Harel Levy lost to Thomas Johansson in Nottingham more than seven years ago.
"It's a great feeling to be in my first ATP final," said Sela, who is bidding to become the first Israeli ATP singles titlist since Amos Mansdorf at Washington in 1993.
"I was very nervous during the match and didn't play as well as I've done in the last couple of days. I found it difficult to control the points, but I really wanted to win and I'm happy I did so."
On Friday, Sela (92nd) completely outplayed world No. 16 Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals, winning 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last four.
Sela, who beat the world's fifth ranked player and top-seeded David Ferrer on Thursday, couldn't match his superlative play from the two previous days against Schuettler, but was still far better than the German and secured the first break of the encounter in the fifth game (3-2).
Despite being broken back immediately, the Israeli was gifted a break by Schuettler's double-fault in the subsequent game and broke once more in the ninth game to clinch the first set.
After a tight start to the second set, Sela claimed a break in the sixth game (4-2) and held serve in his next two games to set-up his first-ever meeting against Roddick.
The American was pushed hard by unseeded Bjorn Phau of Germany in the semis before winning 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-1.
"The one advantage I do have over those guys is serving, so I'm going to have to take care of that and try to take my chances on his serve," Roddick said of playing Sela. "There's no doubt he's playing extremely confident."
The 26-year-old Roddick has won two titles this season, at San Jose and Dubai, and is aiming for his 26th career title.
Jelena Jankovic faces Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women's title match.
Jankovic fought off No. 5 Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in their semifinal, while Kuznetsova disappointed a noisy home crowd in south Beijing, beating China's Zheng Jie 7-6 (3), 7-5.
If Jankovic wins the tournament, she will pull within 21 points of No. 1 Serena Williams in the WTA rankings. That will set up a showdown next week in Stuttgart, where Williams, No. 2 Jankovic and six other top-10 players are entered.
Jankovic has had problems with the Russian. Kuznetsova beat her last week in Tokyo and holds a 4-2 career edge.
Sela, who hasn't lost a set so far in the tournament, will be hoping for a repeat of his performance against Robredo in Sunday's final, after hitting 19 winners and just eight unforced errors on Friday.
The Spaniard was actually the sharper player at the start of the match, breaking in the fourth game with a backhand winner to open a 3-1 lead, Sela, who won 73 percent of his service points, would quickly find his rhythm, however, and broke back immediately before tying the score at 3-3 with a love hold.
After another break in the ninth game, Sela wrapped up the set with a flawless game, serving an ace at set point.
At this stage Sela, was in complete control, firing forehand and backhand winners at will to open a quick 4-0 lead in the second set.
Robredo was totally helpless and Sela clinched the win after 78 minutes with his fifth break of the match in the seventh game.
"Every short ball he hit, I didn't wait," said Sela. "I went for the ball. I knew I had to attack him. If not he's going to move me around."
Also Friday, Shahar Pe'er (37) lost 2-6, 5-7 to American veteran Jill Craybas (70) in the quarterfinals of the Korea Open in Seoul.
Pe'er never really gave herself a chance of progressing by converting just three of her 18 break points and winning only 48 percent of her service points.
The Israeli began the match well, but the turning point came in the third game when she failed take a 3-0 lead despite leading 40-0.
Craybas would go on to take six consecutive games to claim the set and carried the momentum into the second set to progress into the semifinals.
AP contributed to this report
