Blake downs Safin to make Thai Open final

BANGKOK: James Blake beat Marat Safin 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 on Saturday to claim a place in the final of the Thailand Open.   

The match looked all-but over when the American broke Safin's serve to go 6-5 up in the final set, but the Russian broke right back to force a tiebreak.

 Despite playing some of the best tennis since his return after six months on the sidelines, Safin crumbled and handed Blake the victory.   

Blake, the third seed, predicted a return to winning ways for the former world number one Safin, who has not won a title in almost two years.   

"It was a close match and I thought I had a chance, but he's playing like he's top 10 in the world again," Blake told a news conference.   

"In the first and third set he was back to the player that beat Roger Federer. I really had to weather the storm and come through in the third set tiebreak," he added.

The American will play Croatia''s Ivan Ljubicic or home favourite Paradorn Srichaphan in the final.