Dudi Sela loses storms to first major tennis final of his career

Israeli tennis player Dudi Sela lost in the finals of the China Open on Sunday to American Andy Roddick, squashing his chances of winning the tournament.

Sela started well against Roddick, but fell behind in the fifth set, and lost 6:4.

Sela on Saturday became the first Israeli tennis player to reach the final of an ATP tournament since 2001, when he defeated Germany's Rainer Schuettler in the semi-final of the China Open.

Having already ousted the top-ranked player in the tournament in the second round, the unseeded Sela will now face No. 2 seed Andy Roddick in Sunday's final (10 A.M., live on Sport 1), as he attempts to become the first Israeli to win an ATP tournament since Amos Mansdorf did so in Washington in 1993.

Sela's performance in China has already guaranteed him a payday of $46,000 and 120 ranking points, which will lift him from 92nd in the world rankings to 65th.

Although Roddick is the heavy favorite to win, Sela - who has beaten three seeded players so far - is in a relaxed mood ahead of Sunday's match-up.

"Reaching the final of an ATP tournament is a dream that goes through every player's mind at the start of a tournament," Sela told Haaretz Saturday. "Now that I have booked my place in the final, the reality is no less exciting than the dream. It's hard to even describe what it feels like to win match point in a semi-final. For the final I have nothing to lose," he added.