Andrei Medvedev routed Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Felix Mantilla outlasted Tommy Haas Saturday to reach the final of the $2.3 million German Open.
Medvedev moved within one step of his third German Open title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the second-seeded Kafelnikov.In a match twice interrupted by rain, Mantilla, the 10th-seeded Spaniard, rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Haas, a 19-year-old German wild-card entry, who lives in Florida.
Sunday's best-of-5 final will be the first of the year for both Mantilla and Medvedev.
Kafelnikov is No. 4 in the world and was the highest ranked player left in the field, with impressive early-round wins.
But Medvedev broke Kafelnikov in the opening game and never looked behind, breezing through the semifinal in 62 minutes.
Medvedev won the German Open in 1994 and 1995 and if he wins Sunday he would join Eddie Dibbs as the only three-time champion in the open era. Dibbs won in 1973, 1974 and 1976.
Haas, playing in his first major semifinal, had the support of the center-court crowd in the city where he was born. He took the first set and appeared in control when a rain and hail shower interrupted play for 45 minutes at 4-3 for Mantilla in the second.
When play resumed, Mantilla broke and although he double-faulted at set point, a forehand on the line converted the next.
Another 45-minute rain delay came with Haas up 2-0 in the third. Again, Mantilla returned to break, following four deuces.
From then on, Mantilla's steady, patient clay-court game prevailed over the more adventurous game of Haas, who began the week ranked No. 126, but will move into the top 100 when new rankings come out Monday.
Kafelnikov, a 22-year-old Russian who will defend his French Open title later this month, won three matches in straight sets to reach the semifinal, his best result of the year. His comeback had began with three first-round losses.