By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, April 15, 2017
Philipp Kohlschreiber carries a 2-0 career record vs. Borna Coric into the Marrakech final.
Photo credit: BMW Open by FWU AG
Philipp Kohlschreiber wasn’t connecting on too many first serves today.
He was nearly untouchable when he did.
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Kohlschreiber won 19 of 20 first serve points and erased the only break point he faced sweeping Benoit Paire, 6-2, 6-2, to power into the Marrakech final.
The third seed served just 49 percent, but dropped only eight points on serve in the one hour, 58 minute victory.
The sixth-seeded Paire suffered his seventh straight semifinal loss.
It is the 33-year-old German’s first final since Stuttgart last June. Kohlschreiber will try to capture his eighth career title tomorrow when he faces Borna Coric in the final.
In a rematch of the 2016 semifinals, the 20-year-old Coric broke once in each set conquering Jiri Vesely, 6-4, 6-4, to charge into the final for the second straight year.
The 79th-ranked Croatian raised his record to 3-0 against Vesely in reaching his third career ATP final. Coric will play for his first career title tomorrow.
Kohlschreiber has beaten Coric in both of their prior meetings, including a 6-4, 6-4, victory in their lone clay-court encounter in Monte Carlo last April.