Defending champion Mardy Fish and John Isner lined up a re-run of last year's final at the ATP Atlanta Championships with decisive semi-final victories on Saturday. Top seed Fish won his eighth straight match at the venue as he schooled American teenager Ryan Harrison 6-2, 6-4 in a win over a promising youngster a decade his junior. Isner, seeded third, will play his second final in as many tournaments after beating Luxmbourg's Gilles Muller 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1. Fish beat Isner in the final a year ago in a third-set tiebreaker played in heatwave conditions. Weather on Sunday promises to be around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and slightly more tolerable. “I had to play well and I did play well,” said Fish, whose number nine ranking makes him the highest-ranked American on the ATP tour. “This was the best I've felt on court. It was my toughest match of the week against my most difficult opponent.” Isner is riding high on confidence after breaking a lean spell with a second career title, lifted a fortnight ago on grass at Newport. “I always play my best when I'm confident,” he said. “I can move better when I'm confident. I'm not the fastest guy, but I've been moving well this week. “It comes from having a clear mind and making the right decisions on the court. Now that I feel like this, I don't want to let it go.” Isner was playing back-to-back ATP semi-finals for the first time in his career. The final will be his first day match of the week after a run of night sessions. Simon claims title Gilles Simon became the first Frenchman in 25 years to win the German Open, beating Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Sunday for his second title of the year. The third-seeded Almagro was looking for his fourth title of the year. Zvonareva bags Baku crown Russian top seed Vera Zvonareva clinched the inaugural 220,000-dollar WTA Baku title on Sunday, beating seventh-seeded compatriot Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-4 in the final. World No. 3 Zvonareva took one hour and 23 minutes to record her second win over the 20-year-old Pervak in as many meetings and claim her 12th career title. Zvonareva received a crystal trophy and a $37,000 check, while runner-up Pervak, who was playing in her first career final, pocketed $19,000.
