Second-seeded James Blake, hunting his first ATP title in six months, booked his place in the Los Angeles Classic final with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik on Saturday. Blake, who fired down 10 aces in searing heat, will meet Czech Radek Stepanek in Sunday's final after German wildcard Nicolas Kiefer withdrew before their evening semi-final because of a knee injury.
The shaven-headed Blake, competing in his fourth semi-final of the year, survived an erratic spell during the second set before sealing the win in one hour 48 minutes.
"It's a great feeling and hopefully the start of good things this summer," Blake told reporters after reaching his third final of the year.
"Last year I made finals early on in the season but didn't have such a good summer up until the U.S. Open when I was playing a little better."
The 27-year-old New Yorker, who piled up five ATP titles last year, said fitness had been no problem for him in hot conditions this week, despite being taken to three sets in two of his last three matches.
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