Ferrero advances to all-Spanish final

Mantilla is coming back from injury troubles

Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero will play qualifier Felix Mantilla in an all-Spanish Estoril Open final after contrasting semi-final victories.

Mantilla took two hours and six minutes to defeat fifth-seeded Romanian Andrei Pavel 6-2 3-6 6-2 for his 17th straight victory.

Ferrero's win was more straightforward: a 6-3 6-1 demolition of compatriot Albert Portas.

I'm very tired physically and mentally after an incredible month but I'm very proud of myself

  Felix Mantilla

Ferrero, who won the Dubai Open last month, broke Portas' serve halfway through the first set.

He went on to overcome his opponent with a solid display of speed, strength and strategy.

"I wish I could play like this all the time," Ferrero said, who is ranked 19th in the world.

Mantilla's splendid start suggested he might also wrap up an early victory.

The clay-court specialist, who is battling back after a seven-month injury lay-off, took the first set 6-2, but Pavel bounced back to take the second 6-3.

But Mantilla reasserted his dominance, racing into a 4-1 lead in the deciding set.

Pavel dug deep but was unable to halt Mantilla's momentum and the 1998 French Open finalist sealed victory with a backhand volley.

Bovina has reached her first final

"I'm very tired physically and mentally after an incredible month but I'm very proud of myself," said Mantilla.

"I know I'm back on the tour now. I'm proud to have made the final. I'm playing against one of the top guys on clay."

In the women's semi-finals, Elena Bovina knocked out Germany's Jana Kandarr 7-5 6-3.

The towering 18-year-old Russian, ranked 95th in the WTA standings, shot her way up from the qualifying rounds at Estoril to make her first final since turning pro last year.

Bovina will meet Spain's Angeles Montolio in an unseeded women's final.

Montolio came from a set down to beat third-seeded Belgian Justine Henin 5-7 7-6 6-4 in a semi-final lasting well over two and a half hours.