Intro:

Rafael Nadal and Viktor Troicki through to Mercedes Cup final in Stuttgart at the expense of Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic respectively.

Script:

Semi-finals day in Stuttgart saw Rafael Nadal against Gael Monfils first up.

The pair had met 12 times previously with the Spaniard leading the head-to-heads by a commanding 10-2 margin.

The players exchanges holds of serves early on before the two-time Wimbledon winner, Nadal, took the first set 6-3.

Nadal finished off the match 6-4 in the second and will go for his third title in Stuttgart, the two previous coming on clay.

His opponent in the final was either of the pair from the Balkan regions.

Viktor Troicki from Serbia took the first set 6-3 against Croatia's Marin Cilic.

The US Open Champion, Cilic, hit back in the second taking the set on a tiebreak.

However, Troicki's big serve came good as he finished off Cilic with another tie break in the decider.

Troicki has lost all four meetings with Nadal previously, the final though will be their first meeting on grass.