Japanese qualifier Kei Nishikori shocked young American San Querrey in a three-set thriller on Saturday to book his first ATP finals berth.
In the final, Nishikori will face top seed James Blake who beat fellow American Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-4 in the other semi on Saturday.
Nishikori, 18 and playing in his first ATP semi-final in only his sixth career tournament, saved four match points in the third-set tiebreaker as he beat 20-year-old Querrey 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).
Nishikori will be a heavy underdog against Blake.
"I didn't think about anything and just played one point at a time," said Nishikori, about the four match points he faced.
"I just said go for it. I was tired mentally but I tried to fight and stay in the match. I am really happy about my first ATP final but I have one more tomorrow," he said.
Nishikori, who moved to Florida at the age of 14 to train at the Bollettieri Academy, came into the tournament ranked 244th in the world.
By becoming the first Japanese to reach an ATP final since Shuzo Matsuoka was runner-up at Queen's Club in London in 1992, Nishikori is expected to jump to 146th.
Matsuoka is also the last Japanese to win an ATP title, capturing the crown in Seoul in April 1992.
After the final set went to a tiebreak, Querrey took control and led 3-0.
He was one point away from his first ATP final, leading, 6-3, and 7-6. But Nishikori fought back, winning the final three points as Querrey netted a return from the baseline off his second serve.
The 28-year-old Blake, who is seeking his 11th career singles title, will complete the US$411,000 hardcourt event without facing a seeded player.
Blake posted his third consecutive victory over wild card Ginepri.
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AFP, MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Mario Ancic's journey on the long road back from the crippling illness which halted his career enjoyed another boost on Saturday when he reached the Marseille final.
The 23-year-old Croatian, a former world No. 7 who missed six months last season and saw his ranking slump to 135, eased past Cypriot sixth seed Marcos Baghatis 6-4, 6-2 to reach his first final since October 2006.
In yesterday's final, he was to face British fourth seed Andy Murray, who put out eighth-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-2.
"I am so happy to get through here. I am continuing to live my dream," Ancic said. "I have worked so hard to get back, I was away for such a long time. It will be a difficult match against Murray."
Ancic made the final here two years ago while the 2007 edition turned out to be his last when a first-round exit prefaced his long absence caused by mononucleosis, an ailment whose symptoms include enlargement of the spleen and an inflamed liver.
Even after coming back in August a shoulder injury meant he had to miss the US Open.
Playing as a wildcard, Anic took 80 minutes to see off Baghdatis.
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