Photo: Rita May
Erlich and Ram

Israelis Chase First Title of '07

Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram defeated Czechs Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner 7-6(4), 7-5 Saturday to reach the Cincinnati final, where they will attempt to win their first title of 2007 against top seeds Bon and Mike Bryan. 

Erlich and Ram saved all five break points they faced, including three consecutive chances in the second set at 3-4 with Ram serving. Soon after, at 5-5, Dlouhy's forehand volley caught the top of the net and bounced back, giving Erlich and Ram the only break of the match. Ram was again under pressure on serve at 15/30 in the next game but held his nerve to serve out the match.

Erlich and Ram will appear in their fourth final of the year but are seeking their first title of 2007 and their first career Masters Series shield. The duo won four titles in 2006. Last year they fell in the semifinals to the Bryans.

The Bryan brothers advanced to their 12th final of 2007 with a dramatic 3-6, 6-0, 10-7 (Match TB) win over old foes Martin Damm and Leander Paes, who broke Mike Bryan's first service game en route to capturing the first set.

But Damm and Paes lost their intensity in the second as the Bryans served up a bagel and then raced to an 8-2 lead in the Match Tie-break. The Bryans, who last week blew two match points against Bhupathi/Vizner in the Montreal semifinals, must have felt nauseous when their lead was cut to 8/7. But Bob Bryan, who boasts the biggest serve in the men's doubles game, fired two unreturnable serves to clinch the match.

The Bryans improved to a 60-7 record on the year. They already have won a personal-best eight titles this year.