rogerfederer.com - Roger reaches final at the Kooyong Classic

Roger reaches final at the Kooyong Classic

Roger got back into form quickly, beating Russia's Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6 (2) Thursday to reach the final of the Kooyong exhibition tournament.

Roger said he felt more comfortable, hit more clean winners and had fewer unforced errors than he did in his first match of the 2007 season the previous afternoon and shook off some rust in his tight win over Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

"I definitely served better and just tightened up the game a bit, so I was really happy," Roger said. "I was expecting a really tough match because yesterday I was struggling with the rhythm and everything.

"But I came out and played really well, didn't make many unforced errors in the wind and could hang with him from the baseline."

Our Tennisstar was in control of the first set Thursday, breaking Safin's serve in the fourth game, giving himself two set points in the ninth with a backhand volley winner and closing with an ace.

He had some lapses in the second, wasting two break chances in the third game before dropping serve in the sixth.  But Roger got back on serve and forced the tiebreaker, setting up five match points with an angled backhand volley and finishing it off when Safin dumped a backhand into the net.

"Yesterday, I had too many loose moments, but it was obvious that was going to happen," Roger said. "It was just a matter of getting my act together for today, and I did, so I'm feeling good."

Roger will play either Andy Roddick of the United States or Andy Murray of Scotland in Saturday's final.