Chennai, India - Stanislas Wawrinka is back in the final at the Chennai Open after he ousted top seed Tomas Berdych in Saturday's semifinals at the $450,000 hardcourt Australian Open tuneup.
Wawrinka needed about 75 minutes to record a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Berdych, ranked sixth in the world and last year's Wimbledon runner-up. The third- seeded Swiss aced his Czech opponent seven times and saved the only break point he faced to reach the title match for a second consecutive year.
Wawrinka lost to Croat Marin Cilic in 2010, with both sets going to a tiebreak.
Wawrinka will face seventh-seeded Xavier Malisse of Belgium in Sunday's final. Malisse pulled out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic at SDAT Tennis Stadium on Saturday.
Malisse won this event back in 2007 and owns three career titles, all of which have come on outdoor hardcourts. Wawrinka has won two titles, including last year's tournament in Casablanca.
Sunday's final will be the first time Wawrinka and Malisse have met in an ATP match. The champion will claim $68,850.
