Mirnyi upsets Federer in semifinals

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Big-serving Belarusian Max Mirnyi upset doubles partner Roger Federer of Switzerland 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 Saturday in the semifinals of the ABN Amro.

In Sunday's final, Mirnyi will face Raemon Sluiter of the Netherlands, who upset sixth-seed Sebastien Grosjean of France 6-3, 6-3. Neither Mirnyi nor Sluiter has won an ATP tournament.

"I've been playing pretty consistent tennis this week," Mirnyi said after beating second-seeded Federer. "It's enough to win the tournament, and I want to win my first title in Rotterdam."

Sluiter won easily against the highly rated Grosjean, sending the crowd into raptures at the unexpected prospect of a Dutchman in the final.

"I was too slow, and Raemon played well," Grosjean said. "He served hard and took his chances."

Mirnyi's game rested on a serve that frequently exceeded 200 kph (125 mph), while the versatile Federer was slightly better in the rallies, accelerating or deadening balls with a deft touch on the returns and winning points on balls most players would have given up for lost.

Federer, who won the Open 13 in Marseille last week and led Switzerland's Davis Cup team to victory the week before, looked supremely confident through the first set. But when he double-faulted twice at 3-2 in the second set to give Mirnyi his first break, he began berating himself for missed points.

"I didn't feel so good," Federer said. "I guess I felt a little pressure."

Up 40-love at 5-3 for Mirnyi, Federer squandered three chances to break back and threw his racket to the ground in disgust.

In the final set, Mirnyi broke Federer again at 4-4 and then held his serve, winning the match on his 13th ace.

The pair shook hands, and after a brief rest, joined forces to win their doubles semifinals match against the Czech team Martin Damm and Cyril Suk.

Federer, unfazed by the earlier loss, finished off the entertaining 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) match with a leaping smash volley.

"It was a nice way to finish," he said.

 

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