Valencia - Top-seeded David Ferrer reached the Valencia Open final for a fourth time after defeating Ivan Dodig of Croatia 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 on Saturday.
Ferrer, the local favorite, awaited the other semifinal winner between Jurgen Melzer and Alexandr Dolgopolov.
After the fifth-ranked Ferrer controlled the opening set, Dodig saved two break points to force a second-set tiebreaker, where he converted a third set point by forcing the Spaniard into netting his volley.
Ferrer grabbed a 3-1 advantage in the decisive set after Dodig double-faulted. He then hit a running approach shot to break Dodig again before serving out the win in 2 hours, 42 minutes.
Ferrer has a chance on Sunday to add the tournament at the City of Arts and Sciences to his five titles this season. He won here on the indoor hard-courts in 2008 and 2010 after losing the final in 2005 when the tournament was played on clay.