Intro:

Fourth seed Fernando Verdasco defeated Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 7-5 to reach the final of the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, USA on Saturday (12th April).

Script:

Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco won through to his first final of the year after a straight-sets victory over Colombia's Santiago
Giraldo at the US Men's Clay Court Championships on Saturday.

With swirling winds causing problems for both players, Giraldo, ranked 84 in the world, was broken in the ninth game of the first set.

30-year-old Verdasco then proceeded to hold his serve and take a one-set lead.

Giraldo, who was playing in his fifth ATP World Tour semi-final, refused to give up and got back into the match to lead the second set 5-3.

However, the Spaniard went on to show all his class as he broke Giraldo to make it five games all.

That show of force from Verdasco was enough as he overcame Giraldo.

Verdasco will now face fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in Sunday's final.

The third-seeded Almagro was due to face American Sam Querrey in the second semi-final, but Querrey pulled out injured before the match.