Del Potro determined in Vienna final with Tsonga

By Bill Scott Oct 29, 2011, 16:06 GMT

Vienna - Argentine Juan Del Potro continued to build for the December Davis Cup final as he reached the final of the Erste Bank Open on Saturday by winning a serving duel with Kevin Anderson 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

The South American will play for his third trophy of 2011 when he takes on top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who struggled occasionally but came through over Germany's 182nd-ranked qualifier Daniel Brands 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Del Potro has beaten Tsonga all three times they have played dating to 2007.

Tsonga managed to avoid the comeback he's required after losing the first set in both of his previous matches this week. But Brand gave the world number nine perhaps more than expected.

'Today I started better and played better. I moved better and played a great match. The second set was really tight and I had chances on his serve which I could not take,' he said.

'I hope tomorrow I will start well and play well. Del Potro's a good player. I expect myself to play my best tennis.

'It will be a good challenge for me. I've never beaten him so I now have another chance at it. I'll keep pressing and play my game.'

The 14th-ranked Del Potro is trying to keep the pressure of the Davis date against Spain December 2-4 in Seville out of mind.

The South American fired 18 aces, beating the Anderson total by one in a duel which lasted two and a quarter hours.

'It was really tough until the last game. I kept trying and trying and finally I got my chance in that game and I took it.

'It was tough to do anything against Anderson's serve. To me it means a lot to go to another final,' said the player who won his last and ninth career trophy six months ago on clay in Estoril.

This week has been a triumph for year-end finals candidate Del Potro, who was forced to retire three years ago with a foot injury during his first appearance at the tournament.

'I've not done well at the Masters events and the Grand Slams this year, so this is an important win for me,' said Del Potro, who has now won 45 matches this season.

The Argentine is set to move into provisional 11th spot for a place in the eight-man field at next month's year-end event in London.

Three places remain open with this weekend and two more weeks of ATP play remaining.