By Tennis Now | Saturday, February 24, 2018
Karen Khachanov cranked eight aces and did not drop serve powering past Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 6-2, into his first final of the season in Marseille.
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Big hitters with a shared first-strike attack squared off in Marseille.
Karen Khachanov had the last word.
Watch: Khachanov on Safin Comparisons
The 47th-ranked Russian powered past Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 6-2, into his first final of the season in Marseille.
Nearly untouchable on serve, Khachanov served 63 percent, cranked eight aces, won 26 of 29 first-serve points and denied all thee break points advancing to his first final since he won the 2016 Chengdu Open.
The fourth-seeded Berdych was under fire from Khachanov's blistering return game.
Berdych won just six of 27 second-serve points and fended off 10 of 14 break points.
The ninth-seeded Khachanov will face French favorite Lucas Pouille in tomorrow's final.
Pouille defeated qualifier Ilya Ivashka, 6-3, 7-6 (6), in today's second semifinal.
The third-seeded Pouille, who celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday, is playing for his second title of the season.
Pouille defeated three fellow Frenchman in succession—Benoit Paire, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet—to win his fifth career title in Montpellier earlier this month.
Three of Pouille's five career titles have come on indoor hard courts.