Black Tennis Pro's

METZ, France, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Top seed Gael Monfils downed Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3 in an all-French semi-final at the Metz ATP tournament on Saturday to set up a final with Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Gasquet, fighting to recapture his best form after a 2-1/2-month suspension following a positive test for cocaine, stayed in contention until he dropped serve with a double fault in the ninth game.

Monfils then took control, relying on booming serves and getting another break early in the second set.

In Sunday's final, the Frenchman will meet Kohlschreiber, seeded second, who beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 6-4. Their semi-final was tighter with the German showing more composure when it mattered.

Monfils, who leads 1-0 against Kohlschreiber, has been chasing a title since his maiden win in 2005 in Sopot, Poland. He has lost six finals since.