Youzhny stuns Djokovic

In a compelling match, fifth seed Djokovic broke Youzhny's serve in the sixth game of the first set to take the lead. The Serbian then took the second set into a tiebreak but he failed to convert a match point leading 7-6 and Youzhny pounced.

In the third set Djokovic built up an early 3-0 lead but the 24-year-old Russian, who beat his opponent in Marseille in three sets earlier this month, broke Djokovic's serve twice to claim victory after surviving two more match points.

"Last week I beat Djokovic in Marseille and that helped me today when I was a break down in third set," Youzhny told reporters.

"It was a tough match but sometimes in a tournament it is better to play matches like this on your way to the final."

Djokovic was frustrated by losing to the Russian again.

"I am still thinking about where it went wrong but Mikhail really deserved to be in the final," he told reporters.

"I am very satisfied with my performance and believe the match we played was the best of the tournament."

Djokovic, who won the tournament in Adelaide in January, struggled with his concentration in the final set after he let Youzhny back into the match.

"After losing my advantage in the third set I was angry with myself as I didn't play calm and steady like I wanted. But that is also a part of the game, learning how to lose points," he added.

In Sunday's final, Youzhny will play compatriot Nikolay Davydenko or Croat Ivan Ljubicic, who meet later in the second semi-final.