Spain's Tommy Robredo reached the final of a Masters Series event for the first time on Saturday when he beat Mario Ancic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 to set up a Hamburg title clash with Czech Radek Stepanek.
The Barcelona-based eighth seed, a former French Open quarter-finalist, edged a tight first set against the towering Croat and completed the victory when Ancic netted a volley on a second match point.
Robredo said his ability to pass Ancic at the net had been the key to his win.
"Obviously when you play a guy like that, passing is the best shot you can do as he is trying to go to the net very often. I played very well tactically," said Robredo.
Ancic had battled back from a set down to win his previous three Hamburg matches, while Robredo had only dropped one set all week, but the Split-born 22-year-old did not put the loss down to fatigue.
"He took his chances and I didn't. I think that's the story," he said. "When the number 12 and number 13 in the world play in such a big match it comes down to a couple of points. I don't think I played anything bad."
Sunday's match will be Robredo's first final in the elite nine-tournament Masters Series after semi-final appearances in Hamburg in 2002 and Cincinnati in 2004. Stepanek, the 15th seed, is also going for his first Masters crown.
The pair have played each other three times in ATP events, with Robredo holding a 3-0 advantage. He beat the Czech 6-3, 6-2 in the quarter-finals in Barcelona last month.
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