Ferrer reaches final at Monte Carlo Masters

David Ferrer comfortably beat seventh-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time on Saturday.

The fourth-seeded Spaniard will bid for his 12th career title against either top-ranked Rafael Nadal or third-seeded Andy Murray in the final. They were to play their semifinal later Saturday.

Ferrer sealed the win when Melzer, who beat 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, tried a crosscourt winner and the ball looped out after clipping the net.

Ferrer, the Australian Open semifinalist, has won two titles this year, on hard courts in Auckland, New Zealand, and on clay in Acapulco, Mexico.

"I'm full of confidence. I feel good physically, and also with my tennis," Ferrer said. "I hope I'll keep going."

The Spaniard started slowly, taking 10 minutes to hold his opening serve, before Melzer broke him in the third and held for a 3-1 lead.

But after Ferrer broke back to 3-3, Melzer appeared to become nervous.

"It's tough against him," Melzer said. "You don't get a lot of chances. Those you have, you have to take. I think the luck I had the last two matches, I was a little bit unlucky today with a few bad bounces on important moments. I mean, that's tennis. You can't always have this momentum on your side."

Melzer double-faulted to give Ferrer a 5-3 lead. Ferrer then held to love, clinching the set when Melzer's two-handed backhand slumped into the net.

Melzer looked uncomfortable from the start of the second set, awkwardly holding his first service game, and Ferrer pounced on his nervousness to take a 5-2 lead.

With Ferrer serving for the match, Melzer suddenly found some form, winning one point with a superb volley on the run. The Austrian had two breakpoints and managed to save a matchpoint but Ferrer eventually closed it out in 1 hour, 18 minutes.

Ferrer is through to his second Masters final, having lost the Rome Masters on clay to Nadal last year.