Haas battles past Evans to face Cilic in the final at Zagreb

 

Tommy Haas had to come from a set down to book his place in to the final of the Zegrab indoors. Facing lucky loser Dan Evans. The top seed got off to the perfect start by breaking Evans to take a 2-0 lead. Evans who was playing in his first tour semi final responded by breaking immediately back. The set was heading to a tie break but at 5-5 Evans broke once again with his forth break point in that game to move him 6-5 up. The British number 2 was then able to serve it out to take it 75 and edge even closer to his first ever final at this level.

The second set went on serve until the 10^th game. Throughout the second set Haas was unable to gain a break point against Evans serve until the Brit faltered 4-5 down to give Haas the opportunity to take the set in which he did.

In the final set it was clear that Evans was tiring. The most crucial game of this match occurred with Evans serving 2-3 down. In the marathon game there was a lengthy 10 deuce's. Evans fiercely save 4 break points but the German kept charging and finally broke him at the fifth attempt. This 4-2 lead was enough to secure the match for Haas with the world number 12 taking it 57 64 63 in exactly two hours. This will now be the German's 28^th ATP Tour final.  

Despite his loss. There should be nothing taken away from Dan Evans who produced one of the best weeks of his career so far. During the tournament he produced very impressive wins over Jan Hajek and Michael Berrer. In addition to this he produced one of his best ever career wins against world number 27 Phillip Kohlschreiber. He is now predicted a new ranking high on Monday which will be in the top 130. 

Awaiting Haas in the final will be home favourite Marin Cilic. Cilic had a far easier match against world number 358 Bjorn Phau. During the match Cilic did have problems with his serve at times but managed to overcome this to take the match 64 64. Cilic produced 6 aces, 3 double faults, 49% first serve percentage (winning 81% of them) and saved 3/5 break points.Cilic will be bidding for his fourth title in tomorrows final at the Zagreb indoors.