Herbert saves 2 match points to reach Shenzhen final

Shenzhen - Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France saved two match points to upset seventh-seeded Alex de Minaur 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8) and reach the Shenzhen Open final on Saturday.

Herbert, a doubles specialist who has won three Grand Slam titles including the French Open this year, saved the match points in the third-set tiebreaker at 6-5 and 7-6.

He won the semi-final on his second match point.

Herbert is into his second ATP Tour singles final after finishing as the runner-up previously in 2015 in Winston-Salem.

Meanwhile, Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan made it to his first final after beating fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).

Herbert and Nishioka will square off in Sunday's final.

Results of Saturday's ATP Shenzhen Open matches at the Shenzhen Longgang Sports Centre (x denotes seed): 

Semi-finals

Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP x5) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Alex De Minaur (AUS x7) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8)