Muller wins battle of aces to reach Dutch final

Luxembourg's Gilles Muller won the battle of aces against big-hitting Croat Ivo Karlovic to reach the 's-Hertogenbosch final in a closely fought contest on Saturday.

Muller, ranked 44th in the world, slammed down 22 aces to 21 by the towering Karlovic, who holds the world record for career aces, for a narrow 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) win at the grasscourt tournament in the Netherlands.

Muller will bid for his first career trophy on Sunday against French title-holder Nicolas Mahut, ranked 49, after he defeated Sam Querrey of the United States 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4.

CoCo Vandeweghe eased into the women's final, beating fellow American Madison Brengle 6-4, 6-2.

Vandeweghe, ranked 43rd, will bid Sunday for a second title in the event, after 2014, when she plays France's Kristina Mladenovic.

The 32-ranked Mladenovic defeated Swiss top seed and close friend Belinda Bencic 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Source: AFP