STUTTGART — France's Lucas Pouille saw off his compatriot Benoit Paire in the grass-court tournament at Stuttgart Saturday to set up a final against Feliciano Lopez.
The world No. 16, seeded fourth, came through a tight match 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, with his crucial break in the 11th game of the second set the only one of the match.
The 23-year-old Pouille, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and US Open last year, will face Spaniard Lopez Sunday as he looks for a third ATP Tour title
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The experienced Lopez had earlier edged out German Mischa Zverev in the first semifinal, 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
Kontaveit-Vikhlyantseva final
Estonian Anett Kontaveit beat Lesia Tsurenko Saturday to reach her second WTA Tour final in 's-Hertogenbosch, where she will play Russia's Natalia Vikhlyantseva.
The 21-year-old Kontaveit, at a career-high ranking of 49th, overcame a second-set blip to see off her Ukrainian opponent 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 6-2.
Vikhlyantseva, 20, claimed an impressive 6-3, 7-5 victory in the other last-four clash over fifth seed Ana Konjuh to reach her maiden top-level final, as she continues a fantastic season that has seen her break into the world's top 100 and make her first Grand Slam appearances. — Agencies
