British top seed Andy Murray advanced to the final of the ATP Los Angeles Open by outlasting Spanish fourth seed Feliciano Lopez 6-0, 1-6, 6-4.
The Scotsman will face second-seeded defending champion Sam Querrey of the United States in the first championship match at Los Angeles between the top seeds since Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi for the 1999 crown.
Querrey saved a match point in outlasting Serbian sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Hometown favorite Querrey has won three titles on three different surfaces this season and could become the first back-to-back champion at the $700,000 hardcourt event since Andre Agassi defended his crown in 2002.
But Murray has a 4-0 lifetime record against Querrey, having won all nine sets they have played, including a straight-set triumph in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
"It was a tough match," Murray said. "He enjoys this court and he will receive good support so it's going to be another tough match."
Murray yesterday dominated the first set but struggled through the second, each loser being broken three times to force a third set. Murray broke to open the third set and held serve to the finish to claim the match.
"Throughout the match, right until the end, there wasn't one point where we both played very well," Murray said. "Neither of us played much since Wimbledon. Maybe that explains the inconsistency."
Murray joked that his ability to match Lopez's speed and quickness came from his mother's big calves, but added, "I've always had quite good anticipation."
Tipsarevic opened the third set with the first break of the match, denied Querrey on three break points in the second game after falling behind 0-40, then held to 2-0 on a net cord winner and a Querrey lob that landed wide.
Querrey broke back to 3-3 when Tipsarevic netted a forehand in the sixth game to surrender his first break of the match.