Belgrade, Serbia (Sports Network) - Young Frenchman Benoit Paire booked his
place in the final at the $485,000 Serbia Open by outlasting top-seeded
Spaniard Pablo Andujar, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, in Saturday's first semifinal.
The world No. 96 Paire fired seven aces and, like his counterpart, saved five
of eight break points in a match that lasted one hour and 54 minutes.
Paire, who turns 23 on Tuesday, will be making his debut in an ATP final and
will look to celebrate his upcoming birthday by becoming the first first-time
winner on tour this year.
He will face second-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi, who ousted former world
No. 3 David Nalbandian 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the later semifinal.
Seppi launched just one ace but took advantage of seven double faults by the
Argentine, finishing him off in one hour, 52 minutes, to reach his first final
of the 2012 season.
It will be the first matchup between Paire and Seppi.
Belgrade serves as a tune-up for the French Open and will pay its newest
champ $88,000.
The Sports Network