Fourth-seeded David Ferrer ended the upset run of Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday.
He will meet six-time champion Rafael Nadal in the final, after the Spaniard beat Andy Murray 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
“Maybe the key was in my serve,” said the winner.
Ferrer was playing a Monte Carlo semifinal for the second straight year. Melzer, seventh on the ATP, was the first Austrian to reach the semifinal here since Thomas Muster won the title 15 years ago.
Melzer had won his last two meetings with Ferrer, including at Roland Garros on clay.
“I think out of the first five games, I should have won all five of them,” said Melzer.
“You could see in the beginning he didn't feel comfortable at all.
“The longer the match went on, the more comfortable he felt and the discomfort I felt,” said the Austrian who said the neck pain which forced him off court for treatment against Federer was not a problem on Saturday.
The Austrian began strongly with a break but lost his way as Ferrer's steady game paid dividends to frustrate his opponent.
Melzer lost the first set in 38 minutes and went down two breaks in the second.
He saved a match point before Ferrer advanced on his second chance from a Melzer unforced error.
The result: Semifinals:
David Ferrer bt Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2; Rafael Nadal bt Andy Murray 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
