KUALA LUMPUR — David Ferrer advanced to his 50th career final after he and Feliciano Lopez both survived grueling semi-final encounters at the Malaysian Open on Saturday to set up an all-Spanish decider.
Ferrer, the top seed, clawed his back after losing the first set to beat Germany's Benjamin Becker 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 after the veteran Lopez won a tense shootout with Australia's Nick Kyrgios 7-6(2), 7-6(5).
Ferrer, 32, has a 24-25 record in career finals and will be appearing in his fourth championship match this year, having already racked up titles in Qatar, Rio and Mexico, in January and February.