By Adrianna Outlaw | Saturday, April 23, 2016

 

Fernando Verdasco ousted defending champion and good friend Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, to set up a Bucharest final against Lucas Pouille.

Photo credit: BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy

Lucas Pouille will play for his first ATP title, while Fernando Verdasco aims for his first title in two years when the pair square off in the Bucharest final tomorrow.

In an all-Spanish semifinal, Verdasco ousted defending champion and good friend Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, to set up a final against Pouille.

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The 72nd-ranked Frenchman advanced to his first ATP final stopping third-seeded Federico Delbonis, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in the day's first semifinal.

Pouille, who upset No. 8 David Ferrer in Miami last month and toppled 10th-ranked compatriot Richard Gasquet en route to the Monte Carlo round of 16 last week, did not drop serve today.

“The first set was tough and so was the end of the match," Pouille said. "In those moments you have some doubts and feel more pressure. I think today I was more solid in the important moments, I made no mistakes and I am happy to be qualified for my first ATP final.”

The 22-year-old Pouille will play Verdasco for the first time.

The former world No. 7 dropped just six points on serve in the final set, wrapping up the win in one hour, 56 minutes. Verdasco is playing for his seventh ATP title and first since he won Houston in 2014.

"I’m very happy, it's always nice to be in the position to fight for another title,” Verdasco told ATPWorldTour.com. “Guillermo and I have know each other since we were kids. We’ve had tough matches and so it was today. I tried to play my game, to serve as well as possible, to be aggressive when needed and to defend well"