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Updated at 4:29 a.m., Friday, June 20, 2008

Tennis: Ferrer, Gicquel reach finals at Ordina

Associated Press

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands —Top-seeded David Ferrer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (4), 6-1 Friday to set up a final against Marc Gicquel in the Ordina Open.

On the women's side, French Open finalist Dinara Safina upset top-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2. Safina will play Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn, who defeated Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-2, 6-4.

Gicquel rallied to beat Guillermo Canas 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 for a chance at his first ATP title in a nine-year career. The 31-year-old Frenchman reached a tournament final only twice before, but has beaten Ferrer in their two previous encounters, at Metz in 2006 and at Lyon in 2005.

Gicquel won four of five break points against the seventh-seeded Canas.

Ferrer, ranked No. 5, never dropped serve against Del Potro, hitting six aces in the Wimbledon warmup. The final Saturday will be the first on grass for Ferrer, who has six career titles.

Safina was the 2006 runner-up in Den Bosch and a semifinalist last year.