HOUSTON(AP) Wayne Odesnik of the United States defeated Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-4, 6-3 Saturday to reach the finals of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships at River Oaks Country Club.
Odesnik is trying to become the first American to win a clay court title since 2006. He faced little drama until the sixth game of the second set, when he led 5-1. Phau fought off the first match point with a forehand winner. Facing a break point, Odesnik served what he thought was an ace, but it was overruled. He double-faulted on his second serve for the break.
That only delayed the outcome. Odesnik held in the ninth game and won it on the second match point when Phau hit a forehand beyond the baseline.
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia met Evgeny Korolev of Russia in a later semifinal matchup. Hewitt hasn't been in a clay court final in a decade. His last ATP final was in March 2007 when he won at Las Vegas. Korolev upset clay court specialist Guillermo Canas of Argentina in a lengthy quarterfinal.
Hewitt's quarterfinals victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain on Friday gave him 497 career victories. He is close to joining Roger Federer and Carlos Moya as the only active players with 500 or more wins.
Odesnik made his second career appearance in a semifinal. He reached the finals at Delray Beach this year, losing to Mardy Fish.