Federer has never won the Stockholm tournament

Roger Federer recovered from a slow start to overcome Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 6-2 and reach the Stockholm Open final.

World number two Federer was broken in the third game of the first set but battled back before taking the tie-break 7-5.

Croat Ljubicic, ranked 17th, offered less resistance in the second as Federer coasted into Sunday's final against Florian Mayer.

Germany's Mayer beat Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in his semi.

Victory for Federer on Sunday would earn him his 64th career title, matching Pete Sampras for fourth in the Open era. Only Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94) and John McEnroe (77) have won more singles tournaments since 1968.

"It's been a good a year when it comes to making the finals but I don't have the best win-loss record this year," reflected Federer, whose second defeat in six finals this season came against British number one Andy Murray in Shanghai last weekend.

"In the past I've had an amazing run. I think I won 24 straight finals at one stage, so this could be the start of the streak again."

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The notion of Federer embarking on such a run, however, had looked far-fetched for much of the first set.

"I had to be patient against Ivan in the first, I missed some shots and some chances," added Federer.

"But after I pulled out the first set with the tie-breaker, things went better for me. I was feeling better about my game as the match went on. In the second set he was perhaps forcing the issue and making more errors."

Ljubicic admitted that his game was found lacking after his first-set near-miss.

"I played OK, but trying to come back in the second set was tough," he said. "He relaxed once he won the first set and just played better, it got a lot tougher for me."

World number 47 Mayer saved a match-point when he trailed 4-5 in the decider, but after holding his serve he dominated the tie-break to reach his first ATP World Tour final of the season.

Federer has a 2-0 record against Mayer but the 27-year-old German has twice upset the odds on the Swedish capital's hardcourts this week, having accounted for sixth seed Feliciano Lopez and world number five Robin Soderling in his quarter-final.

"I have nothing to lose," said Mayer, who has never won on the Tour. "I didn't play my best but I fought unbelievable out there. I really wanted to be in the final. I think I deserve it."

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