In Saturday's semis, the third-seeded Monaco topped Germany's Simon Greul 6-4, 6-3, while the fifth-seeded Montanes rallied to beat countryman Santiago Ventura 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 by converting five of nine break-point chances.
If Montanes wins Sunday's final, he will be become the third Spaniard to win this event, joining Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo.
"It was a difficult match because Santiago (Ventura) never let's you play your game," Montanes said.
Montanes, the 53rd-ranked men's player, lost the 2001 Bucharest final to
Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui, but will attempt to win his second title this season on Sunday.
He beat Frenchman Gilles Simon at the Estoril (Portugal) final in May.
Sunday's Monaco-Montanes winner pockets $105,000.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
Neither Nadal nor Robredo
Neither Nadal nor Robredo won this event, I think.
Post new comment