Black Tennis Pros

VIENNA, Austria (AP)—Frenchman Gael Monfils and German Philipp Petzschner reached the final of the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy in Vienna on Saturday.

Eighth-seeded Monfils defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (2) and qualifier Petzschner rallied to stop 2004 champion Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Monfils will play his first final of the season, while Petzschner had never gone beyond the quarterfinals of an ATP event.

“I won’t put myself under any pressure, just get out and play and enjoy the match,” Monfils said.

Monfils won the only previous meeting against Petzschner in straight sets— two weeks ago in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I have something to make up for that, so I am looking forward to the final,” said Petzschner, who is ranked 125th but will enter the top 100 next week.

Monfils, the only seeded player in the semifinals, broke Kohlschreiber at 3-3 and saved four break points against his serve to win the opening set. The second went with serve until 6-5 when Kohlschreiber used the only chance to crack Monfils’ serve and tie the match.

In the deciding set’s third game—the longest of the match—Kohlschreiber fought off six break points but lost when Monfils hit a backhand passing shot.

Monfils missed three match points when he led 6-5 and 40-0, but used a fifth chance to close the match in the tiebreaker.