Carlsen outlasts Paradorn

Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen advanced to the final of the Japan Open on Saturday, outlasting rising Thai hope Paradorn Srichaphan 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5) to move a step closer to his second tour title.

The 29-year-old Dane prevailed in the clash of two hard-hitters with some powerful passing shots in the tie-breaks, while Paradorn's big guns, which downed world number one Lleyton Hewitt in Friday's quarter-final upset, failed him.

"Today, I missed a lot of shots because I was trying to go close to the line because he's a quick player from the back...I tried to finish it off too early, so I was kind of rushing myself," Paradorn told a news conference.

Carlsen served his way out sticky moments, stacking up 11 aces in all, against six by the eighth seed Paradorn.

The 111-ranked Dane saved three break points when he was down 40-0 in a second-set match with three consecutive aces.

"Three aces. I can't do anything about it, it's not my mistake. What can I do," a laughing Paradorn said.

Carlsen will meet Sweden's Magnus Norman in the final. Norman, who has suffered badly over the last two seasons with injuries and loss of form, beat American Vincent Spadea 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

In the women's semi-finals, Silvija Talaja of Croatia breezed past American Sara Taylor 6-3 6-4, while number two seed Tamarine Tanasugarn was upset by American Jill Craybas 6-4 4-6 6-4.