Top seed Andy Roddick has endured some anxious moments before winning through to the Brisbane International final.
The world No.7 initially had no answer to the fourth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych before turning it around to win their semifinal 1-6 6-3 6-4.
He will meet defending champion Radek Stepanek in Sunday’s final at Pat Rafter Arena.
Second-seeded Czech Stepanek kept his title defence on track in emphatic fashion, brushing aside injury-hampered Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-2 6-1 earlier on Saturday.
The signs were ominous for Roddick when he was broken for the first time in the tournament – ending a run of 30 straight service games – in his opening service game by the powerhouse Czech.
Berdych kept his foot on the throat to break again and lead 5-0 before Roddick finally held his serve, appearing to spark a mini-revival.
Roddick held two break points in the seventh game, only for Berdych to again overpower the American and snatch the first set in 34 minutes.
The players appeared to switch clothes in the second set as Roddick assumed the dominant role, reeling off the first three games before Berdych finally held his serve – but only after saving three break points.
Roddick maintained the rage to take the second in 47 minutes.
The third set went on serve until Roddick broke through in the ninth game to go up 5-4, and the American duly served out the match.
Earlier, world No.12 Stepanek, 31, was merciless against Monfils after the third seed appeared to switch off while nursing a shoulder injury.
While Monfils had his right shoulder strapped, Stepanek preferred to describe his semifinal win as a “mental” victory.
“Everybody has small issues every week and in our first tournament already people are receiving treatment,” Stepanek said.
“But I don’t think anyone I played, it [injury] affected the match.
“When I broke him [Monfils] to go 4-0 up in the second set … I think he knew breaking me twice to get back into the match would be a very difficult thing.
“I think I also broke him mentally then.”
World No.13 Monfils, 23, said he had not yet decided whether to contest next week’s Sydney International ahead of the Australian Open.