Frenchman Gael Monfils set up a return date with Finn Jarkko Niemimen after downing Milos Raonic 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Stockholm Open final. World number 10 Monfils, bidding for a place in the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals next month in London, solidified his position as he rallied past the 29th-ranked Canadian who is only three tournaments into a comeback following hip surgery in July.
Nieminen defeated two-time champion James Blake 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-2 and will hope to make it third time lucky after losing trophy bids here in 2001 and 2006. A second career title for the 30-year-old will be on the line against Monfils, who beat him in the Bangkok quarter-finals three weeks ago. Nieminen won his only title to date in Auckland five years ago but has lost five finals since, including at the hands of Blake in Stockholm in 2006.
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