Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych will contest the Stockholm Open final after contrasting semifinal wins on Saturday.
Top-seeded Tsonga advanced after 2009 champion Marcos Baghdatis retired with a left groin strain in the deciding set, with Tsonga leading 6-4, 4-6, 5-2.
Second-seeded Berdych recorded a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over third-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
Baghdatis picked up his injury at 4-2 in the decider, when he attempted to run down a Tsonga forehand winner on a break point on Tsonga’s serve.
The Cypriot decided to retire after a medical timeout.
“These things happen sometimes, I hope he recovers fast,” said Tsonga, who recorded his fourth win over Baghdatis in as many meetings.
“We played some good tennis … I missed maybe two or three opportunities to finish off the match a bit earlier. But I’m pleased with my performance.
“I hope I’ll be able to play like this (in the final).”
It was the first serious test for Tsonga in his debut in the Swedish capital.