Monte Carlo Masters

Coria has reached his second final of the season

Guillermo Coria claimed a surprise 7-6 6-2 victory over Carlos Moya to set up a clash with Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final in Monaco.

Second seed Moya had been favourite to ensure a repeat of last year's final against his fellow Spaniard Ferrero.

Defending champion Ferrero kept his part of the bargain with a 6-3 6-4 victory over American Vince Spadea - his 11th straight win in Monte Carlo.

But Coria continued his impressive form since the start of the year to reach his second final of the season.

Moya seemed to have the upper hand in the first set, but Coria saved five break points in the 11th game and went on to take the tie-break 7-3.

Coria then raced into a 5-1 lead in the second set after a series of errors from former French Open winner Moya, who saved four match points before bowing out.

I seem to be hard to beat on clay but I'm not going to tell you how I can be beaten Juan Carlos Ferrero

"The five break points I saved at the end of the first set were the key," said Coria, who is coached by 1989 Monte Carlo champion Alberto Mancini.

"We're going to discuss the final with Alberto. He won his so this is kind of special."

Moya admitted he had not found the windy conditions to his liking, adding: "The key was that game at 5-5. I wasn't able to put the ball in.

"And I made a few mistakes in the tiebreak. All the balls were coming back - although I was hitting very hard."

World number three Ferrero needed 78 minutes to make the final and maintain his unbeaten run on clay this season.

He was not at his absolute best against Spadea, dropping serve four times, but the American was even more inconsistent.

Overall, there were 11 breaks of serve in 19 games.

The victory takes Ferrero back into the top five of the ATP Champions Race and the 23-year-old is in confident mood.

"It's a great feeling to be in the final again since this is a very important tournament for me," he said.

"I seem to be hard to beat on clay but I'm not going to tell you how I can be beaten."

Spadea said: "It was not a court or a match to hold serve. And against such a solid clay-court player, it's hard."