Stefan Edberg of Sweden survived a rollercoaster match with Michael Stich of Germany on Saturday night to move into the final of the $1.72 million ATP Championship.
Edberg beat Stich 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the tiebreaker. Stich double-faulted on match point.Edberg, a two-time winner of the ATP Championship, will play defending champion Michael Chang on Sunday in a reprise of last year's title match.
"I see that he served 13 aces today. I can't compete with that," joked Edberg, a noted serve-and-volleyer.
Edberg broke Stich in the second game, as Stich struggled.
"Stefan read my serve very well and was dominating the match," Stich said.
Edberg broke Stich again in the eighth game, ending a set that took just 27 minutes.
But Edberg blew the first game of the second set, and didn't get back on serve until the 10th.
"I lost concentration, dropped my service and let him back into the match," Edberg said. "It all turned around when he served 5-1 in the tiebreaker. I played very well after that. I got very excited and boosted up my best tennis in the tiebreaker."
Stich saw the momentum change when Edberg made a stunning forehand return to go 5-2.
"I played two good points on his serve and two good passing shots, but he was just too fast," Stich said. "He was pumped up then and wanted to get it over in two sets. Unfortunately, he did."
For more than a decade, the ATP Championship has been a haven for Edberg. He's played the past 11 years and has never failed to reach at least the quarterfinals. Saturday's match was his eighth semifinal, and today's match will be his sixth final.
Edberg has an 11-5 career record against Chang.
Chang, known for his ferocious baseline game, turned the tables on big-hitting David Wheaton on Saturday, serving 13 aces in his 6-3, 6-4 win.
"Today was the best I've ever seen him serve in his life," said Wheaton, a 6-foot-4, 185-pounder who was surprised by the 5-9, 150-pound Chang's newfound muscle.
"Aces aren't really his game, but he was able to do it today. He was consistently serving as hard as I was, in the 115-mph range. If he can serve 115, I should be able to serve 140."