Andy Roddick survived to beat Xavier Malisse in three sets while James Blake upset Jan-Michael Gambill in straight sets Saturday to set up a rare all-American final at the Kroger St. Jude tournament in Memphis.
It will be only the 11th all-American final since 1997 and just the third not to include either Andre Agassi or Pete Sampras.
“I don’t think we needed a final to show there’s some good young American players coming up,” Roddick said. “But anytime there’s two Americans in a final, I’m all for it.”
But Roddick, 19, and Blake, 22, have been two of the more successful players on the ATP tour in recent months.
Roddick defeated Malisse 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3 and will be playing for his fourth title since April.
Blake will be in his first ATP final, but his run during the week should help him become the first black to crack the top 50 since Mal Washington in 1997.
The eighth-seeded Blake notched his second consecutive upset in as many days as he downed No. 3 Gambill 6-4, 7-6 (10-8). Blake also defeated top-seeded Tommy Haas in the quarterfinals.
“It feels great,” said Blake, who started 2001 ranked near No. 200. “I’m really excited.”
– Third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat fellow Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to win the $585,000 Dubai Open in the United Arab Emirates.
Testud upset Venus Williams in the semifinals Friday. Williams, who has won three tournaments this year, already was assured of passing Jennifer Capriati to become No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
– Tim Henman defeated Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 6-4 and will meet Nicolas Escude in the final of the indoor ABN Amro tournament in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Defending champion Escude advanced to the final by eliminating fourth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean in a battle of Frenchmen, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5.
– Nicolas Massu beat Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 to advance to the finals of the $425,000 Copa AT&T tournament in Buenos Aires.
Massu will face Agustin Calleri, who beat Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 6-4.
