Monfils squeezes past German

Eighth seed Gael Monfils advanced to his first final of the year after edging out Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-2) on Saturday in the semi-finals of the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy.

The 22-year-old has reached three semi-finals this year, including his impressive run at the French Open, but had failed to reach a title game.

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

Monfils then failed to serve out the match while leading 6-5 in the deciding set, but rallied to take the subsequent tie-break 7-2.

He will now face another German in the final.

Phillip Petzschner booked his first final appearance Saturday with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

ATP Vienna semi finals:
8-Gael Monfils (France) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-2)
Philipp Petzschner (Germany) def. Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 3-6 6-3 6-3