Nieminen aiming for Stockholm revenge against Monfils

By Bill Scott Oct 22, 2011, 16:39 GMT

Stockholm - Finn Jarkko Nieminen will attempt to avenge a loss in Bangkok earlier this month when he plays for the Stockholm Open title on Sunday against Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nieminen, ranked 69th, has lost two Stockholm finals, in 2001 and in 2006. The Nordic hero earned his third chance as he put out two-time winner James Blake 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-2 in their semi-final Saturday.

Monfils prevailed in a comeback over Canadian big hitter Milos Raonic 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours after trailing a set and a break against the number 29, who is playing only his third tournament after July hip surgery.

Monfils, ranked tenth and hoping to win a place in the November World Tour Finals which wrap up the ATP season, is the only member of the Top 15 without a trophy this season.

'My game plan of moving him around worked,' said Monfils, 35-14 in 2011. 'A comeback is not easy. I got a bit angry in the tiebreaker but steadied after that.

'I thought the match was good from my side. He was getting tired at the end and my strategy of moving was working well.'

Monfils is playing this week for the first time in a fortnight after missing Beijing and Shanghai with the knee pain he suffered in Bangkok as he lost in the semi-finals.

'The final will be tough, Jarkko's a big fighter. I will have to review what I did in Bangkok and improve on it. I have to play better than I did there. I'm expecting a tough battle from the baseline.'

Nieminen and Blake were playing for the fourth time in Stockholm after the 2006 final plus quarters in 2007 and 2010.

'This was pretty close to my best tennis,' said Nieminen, now 21-22 on the season as he surpassed his previous 2011 best of a Bangkok quarter-final three weeks ago.

'It's one of the top 10 wins of my career. I'm pleased with how I played. I varied my serve and took advantage of it in a smart way. I stayed aggressive all the way through.'

Niemimen is a perpetual crowd favourite among Swedes, who had only one player of their own in this year's edition.

The 73rd-ranked Finn claimed the first set in 47 minutes. But Blake, 60th, held off five break points in the 11th game of the second for a 6-5 lead, which he backed up by serving out for one set apiece.

The third began with three consecutive breaks before Nieminen took the 3-2 lead. He broke Blake for insurance in the seventh game and served out the victory on his first match point from a Blake error.

'I was angry with the way that I played,' said Blake, 31, who has missed much of the last few seasons due to injury. 'I had chances and I didn't take them. Jarkko played more aggressive and served better than I've ever seen him do.'

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