Playing with a broken right big toe, Austrian Jurgen Melzer has made it into the Memphis final by beating Czech Radek Stepanek 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday.
“Well, it’s obviously very satisfying,†Melzer said.
“I’ve played a great tournament so far, and reaching that final is something special. I haven’t played a final since 2010. It was a tough match today. I mean he’s obviously a tricky player. He knows what to do on the court, very offensive at times, just takes back a little bit the speed of his stroke. I had to stay focused. I had to play my game.â€
“But the good thing is most of my sliding I do on hard court I do with my left foot so it doesn’t … affect my game,†Melzer said.
“When you lose a match like that you know you have your chances,†said Stepanek.  “I gave him a Christmas gift in the first set. You know it was a very poor service game of mine, and yeah, we don’t play if something would be different. But the match went that way.â€
“Being love-40 down would be tough to come down from that,†Melzer said. “Played a great service game to hold him, and I think the way I served out was impressive.â€
Melzer will face Milos Raonic of Canada for the Memphis title on Sunday. Raonic took out German Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-4. Raonic will be seeking back-to-back tournament wins as he won the San Jose tournament last weekend. He’ll also be trying to win his third title in just four tournaments this year.
RESULTS – SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY, 2012
Singles – Semi-finals
J Melzer (AUT) d [3] R Stepanek (CZE) 64 36 63
[4] M Raonic (CAN) d B Becker (GER) 64 64
Doubles – Semi-finals
[1] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) d J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 76(3) 62
I Dodig (CRO) / M Melo (BRA) d C Fleming (GBR) / R Hutchins (GBR) 63 76(4)
ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 2012
STADIUM start 1:00 pm
[1] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) vs I Dodig (CRO) / M Melo (BRA)
Not Before 3:00 PM
J Melzer (AUT) vs [4] M Raonic (CAN)