Kitzbühel: Kohlschreiber Shakes off Slow Start to Reach Bet-at-Home Cup Finals

First seed Philipp Kohlschreiber and his opponent Filippo Volandri both played two matches yesterday after rained delays wreaked havoc in Kitzbühel.  The world no. 99 Volandri, who played 4 sets compared to Kohlschreiber’s 3.5 sets on Thursday, got off to the better start.  He served at 69% in the first set compared to his opponent’s 49%.  Both players though managed to break each other’s serve which took the set to a tiebreaker.  The Italian eked by with a 8-6 win in the tiebreaker to take the set.

In the second set, Kohlschreiber rose to the occasion, hitting four aces and looking impenetrable on his serve.  His own games secured, he began pressuring Volandri, who started to unwind.  The German gained 5 breakpoint chance opportunities and came through on 2, allowing him to capture the second set 6-2.  The third set saw much of the same, with Kohlschreiber improving and pressuring his opponent’s serve.  This time, the world no. 23 converted on 100% of his breakpoint chance opportunities to win the match at 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-2.

Kohlschreiber will await the winner of the match between defending Kitzbühel champion Robin Haase of the Netherlands and Martin Klizan.  Entrance into the finals here means that the 28-year-old Kohlschreiber will enter the top 20 for the first time in his career.  The German will be going after his 2nd title this season, and 5th career title overall.

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