It could be argued that seven was a lucky number for the doubles duo of Martin Damm (CZE) and Filip Polasek (SVK) in the semifinals of the BMW Tennis Championship Saturday. But there was more to it than that, as the newly formed tandem used a key break in the seventh game of each set to take a 6-4, 6-4 win over Arnaud Clement (FRA) and Sebastien Grosjean (FRA).

“So far, it’s been our best week (together),” said the 37-year-old Damm, a veteran of 40 career doubles titles who now has an 8-7 record with the 24-year-old Polasek, in this, their first season together. “It’s all about taking chances and working hard.”

The latter was exactly what occurred in Saturday’s match against their talented French opponents. Polasek saved a break point with a volley into the open court midway through the first set, and Damm followed by slamming a shot between Clement and Grosjean to tie the score at 3-3.

The next game was pivotal in the match. Leading 40-30, Damm’s backhand return passed Clement up the line and broke Grosjean’s serve, giving Damm-Polasek a 4-3 lead.

The two teams held serve the rest of the first set, with the 6’5” Polasek using his height advantage to slam a volley winner for the final point of the first set.

Each team held serve for most of the second set, but once again Damm-Polasek broke through with a break of Grosjean’s serve that gave them a 4-3 advantage. Trailing 40-15, Polasek slammed another volley, followed by a blistering Damm forehand return that got past Grosjean. Damm then used nice touch by lobbing a volley to the back left corner for the game-winner.

Clement-Grosjean almost rallied to break back in the next game. Trailing 15-40, Clement returned a Polasek serve by ripping it past him for a winner. Clement then hit a shot at Polasek’s feet to force deuce. But once again, Polasek’s height played a key role, as his high-swinging volley gave the winners a 5-3 lead.

Damm later closed out the match with a serve Grosjean returned into the net, sending Damm-Polasek to their first tournament championship together.

They will play either No. 1-seed Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) and Leander Paes (IND) or Bobby Reynolds (USA) and Andre Sa (BRA) in Sunday’s championship match, which begins at 1:00 pm.

Story by Cory Rogers, BMW Tennis Media Staff
March 20, 2010