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6/20/09 2:03 AM | Kelli DeMario
Benjamin Becker takes to the court against Raemon Sluiter in the Ordina Open championship match on Saturday. The players vie for their first title on the ATP World Tour.
Benjamin Becker is through to his second ATP World Tour final, set for a first-time meeting with wildcard Raemon Sluiter Saturday afternoon. The 28-year-old looks to capture his first-career title at the Ordina Open, having reached just one final since his professional debut in 2005. Becker advanced to the championship match in Bangkok in 2007, bowing out to Dmitry Tursunov, 6-2, 6-1.
The German, currently ranked 82nd in the world, has performed well during the 2009 grass-court season, amassing a 6-1 record after reaching the quarterfinals in Halle last week. The determined qualifier passed through the early rounds with relative ease, dismissing opponents Florent Serra, top-seeded Fernando Verdasco and Michael Llodra all in straight sets. Becker survived his toughest test in the semis on Friday, overcoming a lackluster start to knock out fourth seed and compatriot Rainer Schuettler, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Becker has turned in a solid showing on serve all week long, crushing 46 aces in four matches.
Hometown favorite Raemon Sluiter will have the support of a partisan crowd behind him on Saturday as he bids for his first ATP World Tour title. The 31-year-old veteran, ranked 866th in the world, returns to a championship match for the first time in five years. Sluiter, who became the lowest-ranked competitor to reach an ATP World Tour championship match, has advanced to three previous finals.
The Dutch wildcard posted his first victories of the season this week, collecting wins over Daniel Gimeno Traver, Marcos Baghdatis (by retirement), Dudi Sela and Ivan Navarro. Sluiter rallied from a set down to snag his semifinal clash with Navarro on Friday, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.
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So pleased for Becker. He really is one of the nicest guys on the tour and after starting the year with his ranking down at 135, he's been posting good results in Challengers and now back on the ATP Tour. A win here would put his ranking back into the 50s. Best of luck Ben!
sukhumvit , 6/20/09 11:58 AM
Benjamin Becker
Raemon Sluiter
Ordina Open
torres9, Mar 12, 2010 7:47 PM
SenorPlaid, Mar 12, 2010 7:35 PM
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carrie, Mar 12, 2010 6:15 PM
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Becker will probably win but I think it would be cool if Sluiter could win.
Recordbreaks , 6/20/09 5:58 AM