World No 4 Milos Raonic overcame Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6(6) on Saturday to set up a final against Jack Sock in the Delray Beach Open in Florida.
The Canadian fired 17 aces in the win, taking early control of the contest when he broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set after the Argentine went long on a backhand.
Raonic held his serve comfortably to win the opening set 6-3 but he faced a sterner test in the second set with Del Potro delivering a string of forehand winners.
The runner-up at Wimbledon last year broke to go 6-5 up in the second, only for Del Potro to break back immediately with a two-handed return down the line after Raonic had double-faulted at 30-15 when he was within two points of clinching the match.
The Canadian double-faulted again in the tiebreaker at 5-4 up but he then held his nerve and won the contest with a trademark ace.
Sock defeated compatriot Donald Young 6-4 7-6(2) to reach his second ATP World Tour final of the season but the world number 21 will have to produce his best to stand a chance against Raonic’s powerful serve.
Raonic has beaten Sock eight times in 10 meetings but the American prevailed in their most recent match at the Shanghai Masters in October.