STOCKHOLM, Oct 15 - James Blake scored a convincing
6-4 6-3 win over Belgian Olivier Rochus at the Stockholm Open on
Saturday to reach his first ATP final outside the United States.
The American sixth seed, bidding for his third career title
after winning in Washington in 2002 and in Long Island earlier
this year, will face the winner of the tie between Italian
Davide Sanguinetti and Thai Paradorn Srichaphan being played
later in the day.
Coming from a break down in the first set Blake hit 17 aces
to avenge his straight sets loss to the Belgian in the Davis Cup
last month, their only previous meeting.
Rochus got the better start in the match and broke Blake to
4-2 before the American found his groove and grabbed five games
in a row, clinching the first set on his way 6-4 with a second
serve ace.
Blake broke Rochus in the fifth game of second set and went
on to hold serve, saving break points at 3-2 and again at 4-3
with excellent serving and thunderous forehand winners.
He needed just one match point on the Rochus serve at 5-3 to
finish it off, forcing the Belgian to hit into the net.
In the second round Blake had fought his way back to beat
his opponent's brother Christophe Rochus in a dramatic
three-setter.