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Chennai - Defending champion Marin Cilic continued his winning streak against Janko Tipsarevic to enter the final of the $400 000 ATP Chennai Open on Saturday.
The world number 14 from Croatia triumped 6-1 6-3 in a semi-final lasting 84 minutes to record his fourth successive win against the 38th-ranked Serbian.
Second-seeded Cilic, favoured to retain the title after top seed Robin Soderling crashed out in the first round, plays either Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland or Dudi Sela of Israel in Sunday's final.
Cilic, who beat Tipsarevic in the quarter-final here last year, ran away with the first set in just 27 minutes after the Serb failed to hold his serve even once.
Tipsarevic, seeded fourth, was broken again in the first game of the second set, allowing Cilic to dominate in front of 1 000 Indian fans at the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium.
"I know the crowd was with Janko, but I played to my potential and won," Cilic said on courtside after the match.
"It is great to be in the final here again, a very good way to start the year. I look forward to returning to the court tomorrow."
Cilic defeated Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman in last year's final.
The second-seeded Cilic, favoured to retain the title after top seed Robin Soderling crashed out in the first round, takes on third seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in Sunday's final.
The 21st-ranked Wawrinka fought off a tough challenge from number 43 Dudi Sela of Israel before winning the baseline slugfest 6-4 2-6 7-5 in two hours and 32 minutes of absorbing tennis.
Wawrinka goes into the final with a 4-0 record against Cilic, but their last meeting was way back at the French Open on 2008 when the Swiss star won a second-round match in straight sets.
"It was a long time ago, it really does not matter now," said Wawrinka. "He won the title here last year, while I lost in the first round.
"I will have to be at my best to beat Cilic because he serves well and is good from the back too. I hope I get the support of the crowd here."
