KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) Robin Haase of the Netherlands reached an ATP final for the first time, defeating Joao Souza of Brazil 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4 Friday at the Bet-at-Home Cup.
The 53rd-ranked Dutchman will play for the title against top-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina or Albert Montanes of Spain for the title. Souza, ranked 110th, was trying to become the first qualifier this season to advance to an ATP final.
Haase was playing in his second semifinal after the Dutch Open in 2007. He won 16 of the first 20 points and dropped just one point on serve in the opening set.
Souza failed to serve out the second at 5-4 before clinching it in the tiebreaker. He lost serve again in the opening game of the deciding set.