Johansson back from brink to see off Blake

By Johannes Hellstrom

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Thomas Johansson saved five match points to upset defending champion James Blake and reach the final of the Stockholm Open on Saturday.

The Swede, the winner here in 2000 and 2004, recovered from a first set in which the American outplayed him to triumph 3-6 6-1 7-6 and set up a meeting with Ivo Karlovic in Sunday's final.

The big-serving Croatian had earlier disposed of German Tommy Haas 6-4 6-3.

"It's not every day that you turn around a match where you've had five match points against you, especially not against James, so I'm credibly satisfied," said Johansson.

Twice champion Blake, who had never previously lost a match in Stockholm, played near flawless tennis in the first set, breaking Johansson to 3-1.

After he had held his serve to wrap up the first set, Blake's game got weaker in the second as Johansson improved.

The decisive third set proved to be a thriller as the top-seeded American was back to his best and he returned superbly on Johansson's serve but never capitalized on his break points.

Leading 5-4, Blake had his first match point at 30-40 on Johansson's serve but the Swede fought his way out of trouble.