Second seed Dmitry Tursunov will play Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic in the final of the inaugural men's Eastbourne International after winning through in difficult, windy conditions.
Russian Tursunov, the world number 27, had a straightforward 6-2 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez while Dancevic beat French fourth seed Fabrice Santoro 6-4 6-4.
The two finalists met two years ago in Dancevic's only previous ATP Tour final in Indianapolis where the Russian won.
Dancevic, ranked 126 in the world, surpassed his own expectations by surviving qualifying after falling and twisting his leg during a match.
After treatment, he went on to beat top seed Igor Andreev of Russia in the first round of the main draw of the grasscourt event.
"I just came here before Wimbledon trying to get a few matches in the qualifiers and here I am in the final," Dancevic, who comes from Niagara Falls, said. "I have had an awesome time this week."
Santoro, who has said this will be his last year on the ATP Tour at the age of 36, has delighted the crowd here with his ability to chase down every ball and his trademark deft touches, which long ago earned him the nickname The Magician.
Dancevic, 12 years the Frenchman's junior and ranked 126 in the world, had some magic tricks of his own, often winning points at the net in exquisite exchanges.
He fought off three breakpoints in a long fourth game, which went eight times to deuce, and took the only break of the first set in the ninth game when Santoro put a backhand in the net.
A single break also decided the second set and Dancevic saved a breakpoint as he served for the match before volleying the winning shot on his first matchpoint.
Tursunov, who underwent ankle surgery last month, said the gusting winds in this seaside town had caused problems for all the players.
"It was swirly, it was wavy, it was zig-zagging; it had everything that it is not supposed to be when you play tennis," he said. "It was definitely not the easiest conditions to play in."
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