BARCELONA, 2 May 2004 — Former Barcelona Open champion Gaston Gaudio earned a second run at the title yesterday with a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal win over Spanish wildcard Albert Montanes.

The Argentine No. 13th seed will face Spaniard Tommy Robredo, who saw off Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen 6-4, 6-3 in little over 90 minutes to secure his slot in the final.

Gaudio, who won the tournament in 2002, broke Montanes’ serve in the fifth game and pulled ahead to easily claim the first set.

He looked on course for a relaxed victory when he went 5-2 up in the second set but a newly inspired Montanes, who knocked out former French Open winner Albert Costa in the first round, broke the Argentine’s serve twice to revive his chances.

But at 5-4 down and serving to level the set, the Spaniard lost concentration and handed his opponent the match.

Robredo, playing in front of a home crowd on his 22nd birthday, sped to an assured 3-0 lead in the first set but then seemed unnerved by a bout of aggressive play from Vliegen, who managed to level the match at 4-4.

Vliegen’s determination to seize the initiative, however, led him to several errors and the more relaxed Robredo was able to break away once more to claim the set.

The Spaniard continued to dominate the match and an apparently nervous Vliegen was unable to translate his fractured game into a real threat. After once more going 3-0, the Belgian fought back to claim two games but could not consolidate his recovery and Robredo maintained his lead, clinching an easy victory when Vliegen sent the ball flying into the net on match point.

Verkerk Sets Up Munich

Final Against Davydenko

In Berlin, Dutchman Martin Verkerk shrugged off a brave challenge from Belgian Olivier Rochus to advance to the Munich Open final yesterday.

Fourth seed Verkerk, the runner-up at last year’s French Open, relied on his strong serve to move past the unseeded Rochus 7-6, 6-3 and set up a final clash against Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

The unseeded Davydenko, who knocked out top seed and local favorite Rainer Schuettler in the quarterfinals on Friday, crushed Peruvian baseliner Luis Horna 6-4, 6-1 in a rain-delayed semifinal to reach his first final of the year. Verkerk, the only seeded player left in the draw after the quarterfinals, will battle it out with Davydenko on Sunday for a check of 52,000 euros and a sports car worth nearly as much offered by the tournament’s sponsor.

The winner will also get a morale boost in the build-up to the highlight of the claycourt season, the French Open starting on May 24.

Venus Cruises Into

Warsaw Final

Venus Williams crushed Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to reach the final of the $585,000 Warsaw Cup WTA tournament.

The American No. 2 seed, whose world ranking plunged to 16th last season because of injuries, won six straight games to take the first set. “I think this has been my best match (this week), where I’ve been able to move my best,” Williams told Reuters.

“I’ve had so many frustrations, injuries and breaks, and it proved that hard work and a little hope are worth it.

“In the rallies I always felt I was in control, even when I was on the defense. I was definitely able to attack her serve.”

In today’s final, Williams faces Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova, the No. 4 seed, who beat Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-2.

Schiavone had knocked out No. 1 seed and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo of France.