Mikhail Youzhny ended qualifier and fellow Russian Igor Andreev's run at the the Malaysian Open in the semi-finals.
The fourth seed came from a set down to win 3-6 6-0 6-2 in one hour 38 minutes in Kuala Lumpur.
Having failed to carve out a break point in the first set, Youzhny had six in the second, converting three, and five in the third, converting two.
"It was a tough match, despite what the score might be in the second and third sets," said Youzhny on www.atpworldtour.com.
"He played really well in the first set, but he looks like he might not be in the best shape because he's just started playing again after a long injury. So perhaps that's why, in the second and third set, he played not so well as in the first."
Youzhny will face Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev in the final after the eighth seed saw off fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer.
Golubev edged a closer match 7-5 7-6 (7/4) in one hour 46 minutes.
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