Monaco, Nieminen reach Power Horse final

May 24, 2013 - 4:50 PM Duesseldorf, Germany (Sports Network) - Third-seeded Juan Monaco and sixth seed Jarkko Nieminen will be the combatants in Saturday's championship match at the $530,000 Power Horse Cup, a final French Open tune-up.

Monaco got past qualifier and fellow Argentine Guido Pella 6-4, 7-6 (10-8), while the veteran Finnish left-hander Nieminen outlasted game Dutchman Igor Sijsling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in Friday's semifinal action on the red clay at Rochusclub. The left-handed 101st-ranked Pella saved two match points against Monaco while playing in his first-ever ATP-level semifinal.

The 31-year-old Nieminen is 2-1 lifetime versus the 29-year-old Monaco, but the Argentine won their lone career clay-court meeting three years ago in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Monaco is 7-9 in his career finals and will play in his first title match of 2013, while Nieminen is 2-10 in his career finals and will also appear in his first championship match of the season.

Saturday's winner will collect $95,000.