El Aynaoui to face Santoro

Thomas Johansson lost his temper against El Aynaoui

Outsiders Younes El Aynaoui and Fabrice Santoro will meet in the final of the Dubai Open after overcoming more fancied opponents.

Morocco's El Aynaoui upset Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 6-3 while Frenchman Santoro outlasted eighth seed Jiri Novak to win his semi-final 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7/4).

El Aynaoui said of his victory over the number three seed: "I gave a good fight.

"He tried everything, he wanted to win really bad and he got nervous, I think. But I played well. I won't be nervous in the final.

Younes has the best forehand in the world and you have to find his backhand

Beaten semi-finalist Thomas Johansson

"I was in the final in Qatar a few weeks ago and everyone had high expectations and tomorrow will be pure pleasure. I have nothing to lose."

Johansson received a point penalty on his way to his second successive Dubai semi-final loss. Last year he was beaten by Marat Safin.

"I thought I had the match," said Johansson. "I was up 5-2 in the first set and let it go, then I won the second set and was a break up in the third."

Point penalty

The match only turned in El Aynaoui's favour after he had left the court for treatment to his lower back following the third game of the final set.

He returned to break back for 2-2 and Swede Johansson received a warning for hitting a ball into the royal enclosure.

With his frustration growing, Johansson netted a backhand to give El Aynaoui a 4-2 lead and then hurled his racquet, receiving another warning and a point penalty.

Santoro reached the first Dubai final in 1993

"He came back really strong after the medical time-out and played really well. I don't think he was that bad because he was running more," said Johansson.

"I was serving terribly today. I had to hit a lot of second serves, and when I do that he runs around and hits his forehand really well and really hard.

"He has the best forehand in the world and you have to find his backhand. That's the key to the whole game and what made the difference."

'Not afraid'

Santoro staged a stirring fightback to keep alive his hopes of a first tournament win in two years.

After dropping the opening set, the 29-year-old lost the first eight points of the second before rallying to take the match to a decider.

He failed to convert two match points at 5-4 but dominated the tiebreak to clinch victory.

He said: "I was not afraid of him but I knew I had to play my best game and serve very well, which I didn't do at the beginning.

"But I managed to raise my level and then I played some great tennis.

"When I lost the two match points I thought I was going to lose and when I sat down at the changeover I couldn't breathe.

"But fortunately I managed to put some good first serves in."