Verkerk is playing in only his third Grand Slam tournament Ferrero sees off Costa More semi-final photos

The unseeded Dutchman came through 7-6 6-4 7-6 to set up a final against Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat Albert Costa in the second semi-final.

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And he could have had an easier win when Coria threw his racket in frustration at losing the first set, inadverdently hitting a ballboy.

Disqualification was a possibility but the umpire showed lenience in just giving the 21-year-old Argentine a warning.

"I felt very bad about it for several games," said Coria afterwards. "I apologised to the ballboy.

"I think that's a reason why I lost the second set."

It's a dream for me to be here in the final of Roland Garros Martin Verkerk

Verkerk's achievement is remarkable considering his inexperience at the highest level - he is playing in only his third Grand Slam and at Roland Garros for the first time.

The world number 46 had never won a Grand Slam match before this tournament but now stands one game away from taking the title.

"I'm really emotional," he said afterwards. "I don't know what happened out there.

"It's a dream for me to be here in the final of Roland Garros. I made it and it's unbelievable."

In a desperately close first set, neither player was able to fashion a break point before the inevitable tie-break.

Gamewatch: Coria v Verkerk

Coria got the first mini-break but it proved a minor distraction for Verkerk, who stormed through to take it 7-5, prompting the Argentine to hurl his racket in anger.

The ensuing controversy looked to have helped the seventh seed as he broke early in the second set.

But again Verkerk fought back and, at 5-4 down, the pressure was too much for Coria, who played an appalling game to drop the second set.

I'd tell whoever he faces in the final to watch out Guillermo Coria

A revival briefly seemed possible when Coria broke in the fourth game of the third set but he immediately dropped serve.

Verkerk missed an incredible six chances to break at 4-3 up but needed no more encouragement in the tie-break, surging 6-0 ahead and and sealing victory when Coria double faulted.

"He was a lot better in the first set than I was but my serve kept me in the match," said Verkerk.

"Once I took a one-set lead I could take more risks on his serve, because my serve was amazing.

"It was so tough not to get (the seventh) game and I thought he might come back into the set, but the tie-break saved me again."

Coria admitted: "I'm not surprised he's made the final, he's a very good player.