Monfils advances to final in Austria

Oct 11, 2008 - 7:24 PM VIENNA, Austria (Ticker) -- Gael Monfils is in unfamiliar territory.

The eighth-seeded Frenchman advanced to his first final of the year by outlasting unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), on Saturday in the semifinals of the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy.

The 22-year-old has reached three semifinals this year, including his impressive run at the French Open, but had yet to reach a championship in 2008.

"I feel very good. To be in the final is something special," Monfils said. "Still, I want to be hundred percent tomorrow to try to take my first title this year. The key was that I was fighting a lot today, it was a very good match out there. I was a little bit more aggressive and won with a little bit of luck."

The world's 28th-ranked player, Monfils is just 1-4 all-time in finals, claiming his only title at Sopot in 2005.

Monfils took the first set with a single break of serve, only to have Kohlschreiber do the same in the second set.

The Frenchman then failed to serve out the match while leading 6-5 in the deciding set, but rallied to take the subsequent tiebreak 7-2.

Monfils will now face another German in the final. Phillip Petzschner rallied to defeat Spain's Feliciano Lopez, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in Saturday's other semifinal.

Petzschner will be appearing in his first final. Ranked 125th, the 24th-year-old kicked off his dream run through the draw with an upset of top seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening round.

"It's the most amazing week I've had so far in my career," Petzschner said. "It's the greatest week of my life. I beat the first top-10 player of my career, played in my first semifinal and now in my first final."

Petzschner has faced Monfils once before, losing to the Frenchman in the quarterfinals at Bangkok last month.

"I played Monfils two weeks ago, we had a tough quarterfinal in Bangkok," the qualifier said. "He beat me there and I will try to get my revenge tomorrow. I know what to expect on the court and I think if I play well I will have a good chance to win."

First prize is just over $187,000.