VALENCIA, Spain (AP)—David Ferrer reached his fifth final of the year with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Robin Soderling at the Valencia Open, while Marcel Granollers ensured an all-Spanish matchup by beating Gilles Simon on Saturday.
Ferrer faces Granollers in Sunday’s final after the 52nd-ranked player’s aggressive net play led him to a 6-4, 6-4 win. Granollers reaches his second career final after winning in Houston over two years ago.
The eighth-ranked Ferrer improved his chances of qualifying for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London this month.
“Tomorrow’s final is practically my passport to London,” said Ferrer, seeded fourth. “I don’t know if I’m the favorite or not.”
While Simon displayed some of the form this week that took him to No. 6, the Frenchman was overwhelmed by Granollers.
Granollers was playing only because Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew with a knee injury.
“It was a complicated game, especially the close,” Granollers said. “After not reaching a final for 2 1/2 years, this is a reward for all the work I’ve done.”
Granollers was a member of the Spain team that beat Argentina in the Davis Cup final in 2008.