They have both already won ATP World Tour titles on clay this year and they are both working their way back up the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings. Nicolas Almagro and Richard Gasquet have battled their way into the Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad final and on Sunday they will duke it out for the trophy.

Almagro, the No. 2 seed, is playing this tournament for the first time and has had to work hard, going to three sets in three of his four matches en route to this final. No. 7 seed Gasquet is playing this tournament for the third time and has an impressive 11-1 record at the event, winning it in his 2006 debut and reaching the quarter-finals in 2007 (where he lost to Andreev). Now he is back in the final and should be fresher than Almagro, having dropped only one set in his four matches so far (against Brands in the second round).

Almagro has been better on clay this year (27-11 while Gasquet is 16-7) and the Spaniard is 6-2 in ATP World Tour finals while the Frenchman  is 6-7). In their only previous meeting, Almagro beat Gasquet in the second round of Acapulco in February. Gasquet led 4-0 in the third set, but Almagro rallied back to win, then after the match said, “It’s clear he was playing better than me, but when I was down in the third set I got much more aggressive and was able to win.”

The last time a Frenchman won this title was Paul-Henri Mathieu in ‘07. The last time a Spaniard won this title was Alex Corretja in 2002. Spaniards won nine of 11 years between 1992 and 2002 but none since then.

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WHAT’S AT STAKE
Winner   €68,450 and 250 South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking points
Runner-up  €35,980 and 150 South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking points

FINALS HISTORY
Almagro    9th career final (6-2 in previous finals, all on clay… 1-0 this year, winning in Bastad)
Gasquet   14th career final (6-7 in previous finals, 2-3 on clay...1-1 this year, won Nice and lost Sydney)

SUNDAY FINAL HEAD-TO-HEAD –

(7) Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs (2) Nicolas Almagro (ESP) Almagro Leads 1-0
10 Acapulco (Mexico) Clay R16 Nicolas Almagro 3-6    7-5     7-6(7)

Gasquet FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
W: Nice (d Verdasco); F: Sydney (l Baghdatis); QF: Brisbane (l Roddick); Casablanca (l Hanescu); Belgrade (l Isner)
YTD W-L: 24-12 (16-7 on clay)
YTD Titles: 1
Career Titles: 6
Date of Birth: June 18, 1986
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 47

• The Frenchman is appearing in his third ATP World Tour final in 15 tournaments this year, having reached final of Sydney (l. to Baghdatis) in January and winning sixth career title in Nice (d. Verdasco) in May
• He is making his third appearance in Gstaad (11-1 record); won title in 2006 (d. Lopez in final); reached QF in 2007 (l. to Andreev); final this week (as No. 7 seed, d. qualifier Dustov in 1st Rd., Brands in 2nd Rd., No. 4 seed Montanes in QFs and Schukin in SFs)
• Has a 6-7 career mark in ATP World Tour finals
• Career-high is No. 7 (set July 9, 2007); has spent 40 non-consecutive weeks inside Top 10

Almagro FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
W: Båstad (d Soderling); SF: ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (l Nadal); QF: Acapulco (l Ferrero); ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami (l Roddick); Munich (l Cilic); Roland Garros (l Nadal)
YTD W-L: 37-18 (27-11 on clay)
YTD Titles: 1
Career Titles: 6
Date of Birth: August 21, 1985
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 18

• The Spaniard is playing in his second final in 18 ATP World Tour events this year, having captured his sixth career title in Bastad (d. Soderling) two weeks ago…He also reached semis at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (l. to Nadal) in May
• This is his first appearance in Gstaad and three of his four wins en route have come in three sets
• Has a 6-2 career mark in ATP World Tour finals, all on clay…Also one of seven Spaniards to win an ATP World Tour title this year – Nadal-5, Ferrero-2, Montanes-2, Verdasco-2, Almagro, Ferrer and Lopez (Ferrero is playing in Umag final)
• His career-high ranking is No. 11 (set July 7, 2008)

DOUBLES FINAL – Brunstrom/Nieminen (SWE/FIN) vs. (4) Melo/Soares (BRA/BRA)
• Unseeded Johan Brunstrom and Jarkko Nieminen have lost two sets in their first three matches, including one in their semi-final win of No. 1 seeds Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman
• Brunstrom and Nieminen are playing their first ATP World Tour doubles final together
• Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares, the No. 4 seeds, have lost two sets in their first three matches
• Melo and Soares are playing their third ATP World Tour doubles final together (their first two came this year too, finishing runners-up at Auckland then winning Nice)
• ATP World Tour doubles finals records: Brunstrom (0-6), Nieminen (1-2), Melo (7-5), Soares (3-3)