BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Second-seeded Florian Mayer of Germany beat Italy's Filippo Volandri 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Saturday to advance to the final of the Nastase Tiriac Trophy.
Volandri broke Mayer's service to take a 5-3 lead in the first set, but the German immediately hit back with a break of his own before serving out for 5-5. In the tiebreaker, Mayer took a 5-1 lead, helped by two aces and a double-fault by Volandri, before wrapping up the set with another ace.
The Italian made a determined start to the second set, breaking serve to lead 1-0. But Mayer rallied again, before accelerating away for a comfortable victory and a place in the final against top-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela or fourth-seeded Pablo Andujar.