AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Britain's Greg Rusedski goes into Saturday's Heineken Open final against Frenchman Jerome Golmard as the favorite after overcoming the fifth seed and former winner Jiri Novak in the semifinals.
Golmard was impressive in his 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil in the other semi, but that was seen as a minor encounter where the participants had benefited from the elimination of more favored players earlier in the tournament.
In addition, Rusedski has played the more tennis in this championship, with all his matches going the full three sets.
"I am physically strong, so going three sets doesn't make any difference to me," Rusedski said. "Obviously I like to finish in two, but going to three doesn't particularly worry me."
Rusedski also has had the beating of his final opponent in previous meetings -- four matches, four victories -- but Golmard believes history means nothing when it comes to a final.
"Hopefully I'll feel better than Greg tomorrow," the 28-year-old Dijon native said. "I will be fresher and so far in this tournament I haven't lost a set.
"But finals are different -- they have a strange atmosphere and I haven't played in as many. It will be interesting."
Asked whether there was a danger of him being jaded by the two tough matches he played the day before, including his first victory in 10 against Goran Ivanisevic in the quarterfinal, Rusedski said: "When you go into a semifinal you are two wins away from the title.
"Now I'm only one win away. I want to win this tournament. That's why I'm here.
"People have asked me whether I am thinking of the Australian Open. At the moment I'm not, I'm only thinking of winning this tournament. That's all the motivation I need and there's nothing better than to go to a Grand Slam event with a title under your belt."
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