It was deja vu in the Launceston International as Egyptian Mohamed Safwat won a tight three-setter against Kimmer Coppejans a week after the same scenario in Burnie.
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"We only played last week and that went to three as well," said the 29-year-old No.9 seed after his 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over the sixth-seeded Belgian. "It's good to be in a final at the start of the year. I've been improving and this is a good boost."
Down a set but up a break at 5-3, Safwat dropped serve in the ninth game of the second but spending the entire break arguing with the umpire over an over-rule fired him up to break straight back and level the match. A solitary service break in the fourth game of the final set secured victory.
"One side was very windy and we both struggled with that and I just hung in there. I got up a break in the second but it was tough to serve against that wind."
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Hailing from Mansoura but living in Cairo, the widely-travelled Safwat spent his off-season in New Caledonia before heading to the Australian Open, made the quarter-finals in Burnie and has upcoming tournaments in Bangalore and Dubai before Davis Cup commitments in Latvia lead into his clay court campaign.
"Despite losing, Burnie was a positive for me because I learned a lot from it and I'm enjoying my fourth time here. I love the nature here and the people are so nice. Tasmania is pretty unique."
Second seed Alex Bolt ensured there would be an Australian presence in both of Sunday's finals with a 6-1, 6-4 win over German Daniel Altmaier.
"He's playing some of his best tennis right now and I'm just looking forward to a good final," said the 27-year-old, who has previously lost to Safwat in Launceston.
In the women's tournament, American Asia Muhammad took a major step towards adding Launceston to her Australian conquests with a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of Ayano Shimizu.
The 28-year-old third seed from Las Vegas broke her sixth-seeded Japanese opponent in the 11th game of the second set to progress to her second Launceston final.
Two years after losing to Brit Gabby Taylor, Muhammad is determined to add to wins in Burnie, Canberra and Brisbane a month after downing former world No.1s Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki in Auckland.
"I've won a few titles in Australia, I've always done well over here so it's good to get to a final early in the year," she said.
"It's always tough in a semi and that was a tricky last game after being a break up but I did good job recovering.
"I'm really pumped with that and I'm using this to build up. I want to continue with how I played today and the final is just a bonus.
"I like playing here. I always stay with friends and it's a comfortable tournament for me."
In the second semi-final, fifth-seeded Australian Destanee Aiava saw off the number two seed, Sachia Vickery, of the US, 6-1, 6-4.
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