Lopez to face Pouille in Stuttgart Open final

Feliciano Lopez won a serving duel 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 over German Mischa Zverev, with their semi-final decided by a double-fault on match point at the Mercedes Cup yesterday.
Sixth seed Zverev was bidding to keep a home player in the field at the Weissenhof club’s pre-Wimbledon grass event. But he was caught out by a Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling decision which ruled his serve out on a second match point for Lopez.
As a result, the Spaniard reached his first final in almost a year since losing last August in Mexico to Ivo Karlovic.
“Lopez is an experienced player and has played well. There was more than luck involved today,” Zverev said.
“But I did play my first semi-final on grass. I hope it can go on like this and I’ll be able to make one or two surprises in Halle or Wimbledon.”
The 35-year-old Lopez heads to today’s final where he will meet French fourth seed Lucas Pouille, who beat countryman Benoit Paire 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.  
Lopez will be seeking a seventh career title and could become the third Spaniard in four years to win the Stuttgart event after Roberto Bautista Agut in 2014 and Rafael Nadal a year later.
Pouille will be playing in his fifth career ATP final and third this season. The winner managed 13 aces to 11 for Paire. Both Lopez and Zverev struck 15 aces in their attacking contest, with victory giving Lopez a 3-0 lead in the series.
Zverev, ranked 31st, won the opening set as he sprinted away in the tiebreaker. But Lopez did much the same in the second-set decider to square the contest at a set each. The third continued with serve dominating before Lopez fired a return winner to earn a pair of match points while leading 6-5.
Zverev was appearing in his sixth career ATP semi-final but his first in Germany. A local player has not won the tournament since Michael Stich in 1991.
“I should not blame myself,” Zverev said.
“I have got to a grass semi-final, that’s good for me. I’m happy to win a few matches.”
Lopez, a rare Spaniard who enjoys grass play, was appearing in a Stuttgart semi for the third time, but his first in a decade.