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Tursunov: Defending champion

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Defending champion Dmitry Tursunov reached the final of the Indianapolis Championships after coming from a set down to beat top seed James Blake.

The Russian won 4-6 6-3 6-4 to set up a clash with Gilles Simon, who beat local favourite Sam Querrey 6-3 4-6 6-4.

If Tursunov beats Simon on Sunday, he will create his own bit of history by joining Americans Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick as the only players in the last three decades to defend the title.

But it was a close-run thing to even reach the final as Blake pushed him all the way.

The top seed looked strong in the first set, holding his serve comfortably, but Tursunov then produced a strong service set of his own, recording four aces on the way to taking the second.

The Russian then pushed on and twice broke his opponent in the final set, but Blake refused to give up and Tursunov had to save a break point in the final game to win.

Simon victorious

In the other semi, Simon beat Querrey in the first meeting between the pair, to reach his first career ATP final in the United States.

A tired Querrey was visibly struggling in the humid heat, allowing the 23-year-old Frenchman to cruise through the first set.

He looked to have the match in the bag when 4-2 up in the second but, after receiving some treatment, Querrey found the energy and determination to fight back and force the match into a decider.

The advantage ebbed and flowed in the decisive set before a superb backhand from Simon at 4-4 turned the contest his way.