SOMDEV DEVVARMAN ?????

Croatia's Marin Cilic downed Spain's Marcel Granollers in straight sets during semifinal action on Saturday at the $450,000 Chennai Open, but the bigger story was a man who didn't even play.

Wild-card Somdev Devvarman of India reached his first ATP Tour final when fifth-seeded Rainer Schuettler withdrew with a wrist injury, making the 23- year-old former NCAA champion at Virginia the first Indian player to reach the final here.

Cilic continued solid form at this event with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to climb over last year's hurdle. The semifinalist one year ago will now stare across the net at the home-country and heavy crowd favorite with a $73,000 first prize on the line at this ATP World Tour season-opening event and Australian Open tune- up.

SPORTS NETWORK