Del Potro to face Raonic in Japan Open final

TOKYO: Top seed Juan Martin del Potro will face last year's runner-up Milos Raonic for the Japan Open title after both men demonstrated brute power and steely determination in winning their semi-finals on Saturday.

Former US Open champion del Potro had to dig deep to beat Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 7-6 in an electrifying encounter to reach Sunday's final of the $1.43 million Tokyo hard-court event.

Third seed Raonic ruthlessly dispatched Croatia's Ivan Dodig 7-6, 6-1 after a spot of early bother, closing out the first semi-final with a flurry of lightning-quick aces.

Del Potro, runner-up to Tomas Berdych in 2008, squeezed through the first-set tiebreak 9-7 with a cross-court backhand that nibbled the edge of the line, prompting a wry exchange of grins between the players.

Sixth seed Almagro continued to go toe-to-toe with the giant Argentine in the second set, again forcing a tiebreak, but del Potro, his blue bandana soaked in sweat, had too much firepower and took it 7-1 on a fierce serve that almost knocked his opponent over.

Raonic, yet to drop a set in Tokyo after winning his fifth career title in Bangkok last weekend, could prove a tough nut to crack for del Potro, who is playing his first tournament since a shock second-round exit at last month's US Open.

The baby-faced Canadian, beaten by Kei Nishikori in the 2012 final, calmly overturned a 4-1 deficit in the first-set tiebreak to take it 7-4 with a rocket serve nudging 230kph.

Local hero Nishikori's reign as champion came to a halt against Almagro in Friday's quarter-finals.

A fired-up Raonic quickly moved through the gears in the second set, securing a double-break with a crunching backhand pass.

The 22-year-old swiftly delivered the coup de grace with three straight aces - his 12th sealing victory after an hour and 23 minutes - to ensure he will move up from 11th to 10th in the race to play at the eight-man Tour Finals from November 4-11.

The way the world number 11 tore through the second set will have given del Potro food for thought. (AFP)