Ferrer, Dolgopolov advance to Valencia final
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Ferrer of Spain and the Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov were semifinal winners Saturday and will meet for the title at the Valencia Open.
The top-seeded Ferrer labored through the first two sets before rolling in the third to earn a 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 victory over Croatia's Ivan Dodig in the first semifinal, before Dolgopolov eliminated Austrian veteran Jurgen Melzer with a 6-4, 6-2 decision.
Ferrer will play in the Valencia final for a fourth time on Sunday and will try for his third title at his hometown tournament. He previously won in 2008 and again in 2010, while finishing as the runner-up in 2005.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Spaniard has already won five titles in 2012, the last coming at Bastad in July. He also won in Auckland, Buenos Aires, Acapulco and Den Bosch, while falling in the Barcelona final to countrymate Rafael Nadal.
Dolgopolov has one title this year, capturing the U.S. Open tune-up in Washington, DC. He also lost to Andy Murray in the Brisbane title match back in January and owns a record of 2-2 all-time in finals.
Ferrer, who is 16-15 lifetime in title matches, is 4-1 lifetime against Dolgopolov.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sunday's winner will earn a first prize of $445,000.