Rafael Nadal digs deep to reach Tokyo final

World number one Rafael Nadal saved two match points to beat Serbia's Viktor Troicki 7-6 4-6 7-6 and reach the final of the Japan Open on Saturday.

The Spaniard will play Frenchman Gael Monfils in Sunday's final of the $1.2 million Tokyo tournament after the fifth seed overpowered Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3.

Nadal took a tight first set on a tiebreak 7-4 with two thunderous forehands but was broken at the start of the second after some aggressive play from the risk-taking Troicki.

The Serb went on to the level the match and had Nadal on the ropes at 6-5 but this year's triple grand slam winner dug deep to force another tiebreak.

Nadal saved another match point and took the breaker 9-7 to advance to the final with a heavy forehand that the 54th-ranked Troicki could not control.

"I lost my concentration after the first set," Nadal told reporters. "It's a long season and there is a lot of pressure so it's easy to lose your concentration."

Monfils had no such trouble against Stepanek a day after knocking out second seed Andy Roddick.

"I'm very motivated," said the beanpole Frenchman. "I know it's going to be hard against Nadal but if I have a small opportunity I will take it.

"I'm playing better and better. I change my game every day. Some days I'm defensive, some days I'm aggressive."