Kuerten through to final

Gustavo Kuerten has had a difficult year

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Gustavo Kuerten beat Ramon Delgado in three sets at the Brazil Open on Saturday to reach his first ATP final for 13 months.

The Brazilian, who had a hip operation earlier this year, beat his unseeded Paraguayan opponent 6-4 6-7 6-3.

I am more confident, more experienced and I have to play my usual game

Coria on his final prospects

Kuerten will now play Guillermo Coria in the final on Sunday after the unseeded Argentine beat Cecil Mamiit of the United States 7-5 6-2.

"(Kuerten's) beaten me twice, in Monte Carlo and Roland Garros, and it would be good to play him in his home," said Coria.

"Back then he was impressive and I couldn't do anything, but now it will be different.

"I am more confident, more experienced and I have to play my usual game, fighting and chasing every ball."

Kuerten's return to form comes at the tournament where his unhappy run began exactly one year ago with a first-round elimination.

The Brazilian won the first eight points of his semi on his way to taking the first set 6-4.

Delgado, who has never won an ATP tournament and is just outside the top 100 of the Champions Race, came to life in the second set.

In a set full of long, dramatic rallies, both players broke serve three times and Kuerten saved two set points in the 12th game before Delgado won the tiebreak 7-2 to level the match.

However, the 25-year-old Paraguayan ran out of steam in the last set and was broken in the fourth game as Kuerten closed the match out 6-3.