Germany: Second-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber and fifth-seeded Fabio Fognini will contest the final of the ATP Mercedes Cup.
Kohlschreiber defeated Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3, 6-3 in Saturday's semifinals to become the first German in the Stuttgart final since Tommy Haas in 1999. Kohlschreiber has lost the other two finals he has played on the tour this year.
Fognini, who beat Haas in the quarterfinals, eased past Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 6-1, 6-3 to become the second Italian to reach the final of the clay-court tournament. Andrea Gaudenzi did it in 1994 and lost.
Fognini is one win away from the first title of his career. He advanced to the third final of his career and the first this season.
Kohlschreiber cruised in the first set and went up 3-0 with a break of serve in the second. But Hanescu won the next three games and Kohlschreiber had to save two break points to hold for 4-3. He then regained his momentum and won the last two games.
"I played exceptionally until losing those three games in a row," Kohlschreiber said. "He played the big points incredibly well but I was able to close it out."
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