PORTOROZ, August 12, 2016

Florian Mayer and Daniil Medvedev will compete in Saturday’s final of the €42,500 Tilia Slovenia Open in Portoroz. The tournament’s number one from Germany knocked out home hope and last year’s runner-up Grega Zemlja on Friday evening, winning 6-2, 6-2.

The 32-year-old from Bayreuth saved both break points he faced, converting four of his own to secure his first victory over the Slovenian in the pair’s second meeting. Mayer closed the match out in only 55 minutes.

“Tomorrow final! I am very pleased with my performance today and full of hope to claim the title in Portoroz,” Mayer stated on his facebook page.

Medvedev emerged victorious from the all-Russian-affair with Alexander Kudryavtsev, winning 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. In the pair’s first meeting, the 20-year-old from Moscow, who is ranked on a career high 171st position, one place behind his opponent, capitalized on eight of his 13 break point chances to advance in two hours of play.

Medvedev will appear in his maiden final on the ATP Challenger Tour. Mayer will return to his first ATP Challenger final since lifting the trophy in Braunschweig three years ago. He eyes on claiming his 12th Challenger career title. The pair has never met before.

Elsewhere, Belarussians Sergey Betov and Ilya Ivashka rallied back from a set down to claim the doubles title, winning 1-6, 6-3, 10-4 over Tomislav Draganja and Nino Serdarusic. The encounter lasted one hour and seven minutes.