2/22/08 10:17 PM | David Cox
Dutch dreams of having a home-grown player in the Rotterdam final for the first time since Raemon Sluiter in 2003, were shattered as Michael Llodra gained his first win over Robin Haase, 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
It was a highly entertaining match, both players getting forward whenever possible and wowing the crowd with their touch and athleticism around the net, pulling off some spectacular volleys with the ball at their shoelaces.
Llodra’s serving has been impeccable all week and like Davydenko and Sluiter before him, Haase could not find a way to read it. 13 aces in total for the Frenchman and that ability to find the big ones when it really mattered was probably the difference between them today
Neither player broke during the match and it took Haase 65 minutes to earn his first break point. The chance was over in a flash, flushed out by another well placed ace
Haase fought hard but Llodra was always on top in the tiebreaks. He led 4-1 in the 2nd set breaker but the Dutchman hit back to level for 5-5. However, the tension proved too much and the more experienced player won the next two points to close it out.
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