Marat Safin beat an angry Guillermo Canas 6-2 7-6 (7-5) to move to within one win of a third Paris Masters title. The sixth-seeded Russian took the first set comfortably, despite suffering an injury scare in only the second game when he went over on his right ankle.
Safin was then the beneficiary of two controversial calls as he won the second-set tie-break.
In the final he faces qualifier Radek Stepanek who beat fellow qualifier Max Miryni 3-7 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.
Their semi-final turned when Stepanek raced into a 5-0 lead in the second set tie-break before winning it and then taking a 3-1 lead in the deciding set on his way to wrapping up victory.
Victory in the final would make Safin the only player other than Boris Becker to win the tournament three times.
Safin, who has already won in Beijing and Madrid this year, took the first set in 30 minutes with breaks in the fourth and eighth games.
The Russian went off the boil to go down 2-1 in the second set but recovered the break in the eighth game.
At 5-5 in the tie-break, a Safin forehand was called long by the line judge but good by umpire Romano Grillotti, who ordered the point to be replayed.
Canas protested, but TV replays showed the ball was in and the umpire had been correct.
The Argentine then claimed the next point, which gave Safin match point, should also have been called out.
Safin hit a decisive backhand volley to win the tie and Canas stormed off court, refusing to shake Grillotti's hand.
MMIX
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