Johansson faces Santoro in Halle final

Sweden's Thomas Johansson serves an ace against Kafelnikov

F Santoro (Fra) bt P Rafter (Aus) 7-5 6-4
T Johansson (Swe) bt Y Kafelnikov (Rus) 6-3 5-7 6-2

Thomas Johansson will face Fabrice Santoro in the final of the Halle ATP tournament in Germany after they both pulled off surprise semi-final wins.

Sweden's Johansson beat Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who committed 13 double-faults in the match.

Earlier, France's Santoro upset the form book by defeating Australia's second seed Patrick Rafter 7-5 6-4.

Johansson, who hit 14 aces and returned superbly throughout, was in command in the decisive set, opening up a 3-0 lead.

I can read his serve pretty well but I never assume anything when I'm playing him

  Thomas Johansson

Another double fault by a clumsy Kafelnikov later handed him a match point on which he hit a return winner to wrap it up after one hour and 53 minutes.

"Every time I've beaten him it's been close and it was difficult again today," said Johansson.

"It's true that I can read his serve pretty well but I never assume anything when I'm playing him because he's such a good player."

Kafelnikov, who smashed his racket in frustration several times, said he had missed too many chances.

"I had a lot of chances, like every time I play him, but I couldn't take them," he said.

Santoro, who had never featured in the last four of a grass-court event before, said: "I certainly didn't expect to win in straight sets.

It usually takes me longer to adapt to the surface

  Pat Rafter

"Before the last game I tried not to think too much about the fact that I was serving for the match against Rafter on grass," he added.

Australian Rafter, who had to save a match point in his Friday quarter-final against Swiss Roger Federer, struggled against the Frenchman whom he was meeting for the first time.

"He's a very talented little player," Rafter said of his opponent.

"I was just getting the ball back and he liked that. I should have tried to out-power him."

Rafter, who was using the event as a warm-up for Wimbledon, said he was fairly happy with his start to the grasscourt season.

"I," said the 28-year-old Rafter, who plans to retire at the end of the year.

"I think I'm hitting the ball pretty well and I've had quite a few tough matches, which is what you need."