STOCKHOLM (AP) Roger Federer could tie Pete Sampras for career titles after reaching the Stockholm Open final, defeating fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (5), 6-2 Saturday.
Federer will face Florian Mayer in Sunday's final. Mayer saved a match point to edge Jarkko Nieminen 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
A third title of the year for Federer will earn him the 64th of his career, matching Pete Sampras for fourth in the Open era. Only Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94) and John McEnroe (77) have won more singles tournaments since 1968.
It's been a good a year when it comes to making the finals, but I don't have the best win-loss record this year,'' Federer said.In the past I've had an amazing run. I think I won 24 straight finals at one stage, so this could be the start of the streak again.''
He's 2-4 in finals this year, and coming off a loss in the Shanghai final last weekend.
Federer won his 50th match of the year on Friday, becoming only the fifth man, and the first since Sampras, to win 50 matches in at least nine straight years in the Open era.
Like in his quarterfinal against Stanislas Wawrinka, Federer started slowly. Ljubicic broke him in the third game. But Federer found his rhythm and rallied to win the tiebreaker, prompting Ljubicic to throw his racket in frustration.
I thought he came out and really executed his game perfectly,'' Federer said.I didn't feel I started bad, it's just I didn't start great.''
Federer ripped a backhand winner that Ljubicic could only watch sail past as the Swiss star took a 3-2 lead in the second. He broke again in the seventh game and his 10th ace finished off his 13th win over Ljubicic in 16 contests.
For some reason, always with him, it ends up like this,'' said Ljubicic, ranked 17th.I'm getting close and never really getting over it. With him, you don't get a lot of chances. And if you don't take the ones you get, this is how it finishes.''
Second-ranked Federer has a 2-0 record against Mayer, who is looking for the first title on the ATP Tour.