ATP Kitzbuhel – Saturday Final Preview

Albert Montanes vs. Robin Haase

Albert Montanes and Robin Haase will battle in Saturday's final at the $645,000 Kitzbuhel Cup tennis event.

Montanes knocked off top-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 7-5 in a rain- interrupted affair, while Haase landed in his first-ever ATP final by holding off Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza 6-1, 6-7 (3-7). 6-4 in Friday's semifinals on the red clay at Kitzbuhel Tennis Club. The 50th-ranked Montanes broke the Argentine Chela 6 times en route to the upset, while the 6-foot-3 big-serving Haase fired 14 aces on his way to dismissing Souza, who failed in his bid to become the first qualifier to reach an ATP final this season. The 30-year-old Montanes will appear in his 10th career ATP final, seeking a sixth championship. The 5-foot-9 Spaniard was a two-time champion on tour last season. The world No. 53 Haase is a 24-year-old from The Hague in The Netherlands. The 2011 Kitzbuhel titlist will take home $104,000.

Albert Montanes has been in tournament twice before but lost in 2nd rd in 2004 and 1st rd 2006 but this year he's went through all rounds 2-0 to get to his first final this year, his opponent Robin Haase from the Netherlands is also playing in his first final this year and has never played before in this tournament, Robin has had to battle 2 of the rounds as they went to 3 sets , with both of them evenly matched in the rankings, Albert Montanes in the semi put out Juan Ignacio Chela who was seeded 1 for the tournament which makes him slight favourite today.

Albert Montanes looks to win his sixth ATP World Tour title at the Bet-At-Home Open on Sunday. Montanes is bidding for his first ATP World Tour title this season.

World No. 53 Robin Haase reached his maiden ATP World Tour final by virtue of his three-set victory over Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza. The 24-year-old Dutchman struck 14 aces en route to a 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-4 semifinal success.