Jarkko Nieminen fought off Olivier Rochus in an epic Auckland Open semi-final on Friday, setting up a final clash with fifth seed Mario Ancic.
Seventh seed Nieminen needed 10 match points and almost three hours to subdue the fiesty sixth-seeded Belgian 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, while Ancic had a comfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.
Nieminin and Rochus battled superbly throughout, with the match punctuated by long rallies and both players running down each and every shot.
After splitting the opening two sets, Nieminen edged in front in the third and served for the match in the 10th and 12th games.
However, Rochus saved four match points in the 10th and another five in the 12th before forcing a tie-break.
The Belgian secured an early advantage in the tie-break before Nieminen won a point back against serve and held on to win.
"We were both playing well and fighting for every point," Nieminen told reporters. "I was enjoying it out there except when I didn't take my ninth or 10th match point.
"Olivier was playing unbelievably when I was on match points. He was going for it.
"I had 10 match points and a few of those I didn't play well but most of them Olivier played great. He made it so difficult."
SERVING POWER
Ancic, who has been drawn to face Argentina's Agustin Calleri in the first round of next week's Australian Open, broke the 20-year-old Wawrinka in the fourth game and upped the pressure on the Swiss with an overwhelming serve and accurate net game.
Wawrinka broke back in the seventh but dropped serve again to let the fifth-seeded Croat serve out for the first set.
Ancic broke twice in the second set to open up a 4-1 lead and sealed victory by breaking Wawrinka again to love in the final game of the match.
"The score may look easy but it was a very tough match," said Ancic, who beat top seed and 2005 champion Fernando Gonzalez in the quarter-finals.
"I was happy with the execution of my game plan. I was pleased with the way I played with my aggression." (Writing by Greg Stutchbury in Melbourne)
