Almagro to face Ferrer in Swedish Open final

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July 14, 2007 22:36 IST

Spaniard Nicolas Almagro reached the Swedish Open final on Saturday by scoring his first win over compatriot Carlos Moya, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

The 21-year-old Almagro, who had lost his two previous meetings with the fourth seed, fired six aces past the Mallorcan and needed one hour 39 minutes to triumph.

Going into the match Moya, a winner here in 2002, had not dropped a set.

In the final, Almagro takes on second seed David Ferrer, another Spaniard, who rapidly disposed of Italian fifth seed Filippo Volandri 6-2, 6-1.

"In the second set Moya started to play a lot better and I found it hard to concentrate," Almagro told reporters. "In the third set I decided to concentrate and that made me more confident."

Sunday's final between Ferrer and Almagro will be the third meeting of the two Spaniards but the first one on clay. Ferrer has a 2-0 record against Almagro after beating him at the US Open and the Cincinnati Masters last year. 

"I will have to play good because clay is his best surface and he's very strong from the baseline," said Ferrer.

"I hope I can return well because he has a really good serve."

The 25-year-old Ferrer won his third title earlier this year in Auckland. He was briefly in the top 10 last year and is currently ranked 15th in the world.

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