Day Four round up

Published: Friday, 5 December 2008, 7:35PM

Greg Rusedski made it three wins out of three in the BlackRock Masters to rubber-stamp his place in Sunday's final - but he was given an almighty scare by Pat Cash.

The Australian had lost both his previous games and was clearly hampered by injury, but that did not stop him taking the first set 6-4. However, Rusedski stuck at it and hauled himself level by winning the second set 7-5.

The champions tie-break decider was something of an anti-climax, with Rusedski easing home 10-4.

After the match, a relieved Rusedski said: "He played a very clever match. I never got a rhythm out there."

Cash played down the impact of his injury on the result, adding: "I think we are all in pain at this stage of the tournament after three matches. There was just one direction I couldn't move in and he kept putting the bloody ball there!"

Rusedski will now take on either Pete Sampras or Cedric Pioline in Sunday's final.

Sampras warmed up for his Saturday afternoon clash with the Frenchman by beating Jeremy Bates 6-3, 7-6.

The Brit failed to cope with the Sampras serve all match so when the second set went to a tie-breaker, the outcome was inevitable.

Bates enjoyed the experience, though, commenting: "We are very lucky to have probably the greatest player ever to have played the game here. it was great to be on the other side of the net from him - I was trying to concentrate on playing but I was trying to watch him as well!"

In the day's other singles game, Stefan Edberg produced a stirring comeback to defeat Guy Forget in what could be his final BlackRock Masters appearance.

The Swede, whose hopes of making the final were ended by Rusedski on Wednesday, was all at sea in the first set, missing volley after volley as an unforgiving Forget punished him 6-1.

However, the double Wimbledon champion regained both his form and his pride in a much closer second set which went all the way to a tie-break.

After starting the breaker with a double-fault, Edberg then produced his most fluent tennis of the match to win 7-1 and take the match into a champions tie-break.

The decider was a much more competitive affair, until Edberg produced a stunning passing shot to take control and eventually run out a 10-6 winner.

Speaking after the match, the popular Swede refused to confirm that he would return next year.

He said: "It has been a good week here but I know I can play a little bit better. It is always a great experience playing here because it is a great crowd."