Wily Czech Radek Stepanek dipped into his deep bag of tricks to upset Frenchman Richard Gasquet on Saturday and move into the Brisbane International men’s final.
The result ensured the French resistance in the men’s singles was crushed at the Brisbane International with Gasquet’s compatriot Paul-Henri Mathieu also going down in the semifinals on Saturday.
Eighth seed Stepanek, 30, will face Spanish Davis Cup hero Fernando Verdasco who thrashed Mathieu 6-2 6-1 in just over an hour at Pat Rafter Arena.
The Czech veteran used all the experience gleaned from his 13 years on the professional circuit to down the seventh seed 2-6 6-2 6-4 in more than two hours.
World No.23 Gasquet appeared to be still buzzing from his Friday night quarterfinal victory over second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and won four straight games to take the first set in 42 minutes.
Looking down the barrel, world No.26 Stepanek began to chip, slice and lob winners past Gasquet – celebrating each one with an in-your-face gesture or roar.
The animated Czech clearly got under the 22-year-old’s skin, with Gasquet at one stage annoyed by Stepanek’s post-shot grunts, prompting the irritated Frenchman to complain to the chair umpire.
Despite making his pro debut way back in 1996, Stepanek will be vying for only his third singles title of his long career after reaching his first ATP final since last February.
He won his only hardcourt title in Los Angeles in July 2007.
The Czech journeyman is proving to be a late bloomer.
It took him 10 years to win his first title, but he did break into the world top 10 rankings after making the 2006 Wimbledon quarterfinals.
In an ominous start for Gasquet, it took 10 minutes for the Frenchman to hold serve in the opening game of the match in which they reached deuce six times.
Seven minutes later, Stepanek held a 2-1 lead after breaking Gasquet.
But that only seemed to spur on the Frenchman.
Stepanek failed to win another game in the first set as Gasquet broke three times to storm to a 6-2 advantage in 42 minutes.
Stepanek again almost broke Gasquet in the opening game of the second but finally got his man in the fifth.
He broke and did not look back on his way to winning four straight games to take the second set comfortably in 40 minutes.
Stepanek again poured on the pressure from Gasquet’s opening service game in the third and broke by the third game but relinquished in the next game.
The Czech veteran delivered the telling blow when he broke again in the ninth game, going on to extend his unbeaten run over the Frenchman to 2-0.
Stepanek will meet world No.15 Fernando Verdasco in the men’s singles final at Pat Rafter Arena tomorrow beginning at 2.00 pm.
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