DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- James Blake beat fellow American Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-4 Saturday in the semifinals at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, Fla.
The top-seeded Blake improved his record this season on hard courts to 9-2. The 28-year-old from New Haven, Conn. has not had to face a seeded player in this event.
He started both sets slowly, but key service breaks in both put him in position to get his 11th career title in his 21st final.
In Sunday's final he faces the challenge of 18-year-old Kei Nishikori, who rallied to knock off third-seeded American Sam Querrey 4-6 6-2 7-6 (9-7), becoming the first Japanese player to reach an ATP final since Shuzo Matsuoka in June 1992.
"I didn't think about anything and just played one point at a time," said Nishikori, when asked about the four match points he overcame.
Sunday's match will be his first career final.
