Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France plays a return shot to US player James Blake during their semi-final match of the Paris Tennis tournament yesterday and Argentina's David Nalbandian reacts after defeating Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in their semi-final match of the Paris Masters tournament yesterday. - AP Photos

PARIS (AP):

Defending champion David Nalbandian overcame former champion Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 yesterday to set up a Paris Masters final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga beat 11th-seeded James Blake 6-4, 6-3 and could become the first Frenchman to win at the Bercy indoor arena since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001.

"I have never played against him (Tsonga)," Nalbandian said. "He's a good player, young and powerful. So, it will be tough, but I have to keep believing in my game."

The wins also kept the eighth-seeded Nalbandian and 13th-seeded Tsonga on course for a place in the season-ending Masters Cup.

"I came onto the court like a tiger, I hit at everything that moved and that made the difference," Tsonga said. "I had to keep going forward, be more aggressive and start better than I did against (Andy) Roddick."

The winner of today's final will go to Shanghai with Juan Martin del Potro - beaten by Nalbandian earlier in the tournament - who clinched his spot because of Blake's loss.

Lost his serve

"Winning you're in, losing you're on vacation," Blake said. "There's nothing I'm going to use as an excuse. I did as best I could."

Blake lost his serve three times and could not force a single break chance on Tsonga's serve. The 23-year-old Frenchman hits 12 aces and won 25 of 28 points on his first serve and lost only five on his second.

Nalbandian will be aiming for his 10th career title today, while Tsonga - the Australian Open runner-up - looks for his second after winning in Bangkok, Thailand, in September.

Davydenko's strong resistance finally cracked in the seventh game of the deciding set when the Russian lost his serve and Nalbandian held his easily for a 5-3 lead.

Nalbandian won on his second match point when Davydenko's return sailed long.

"Maybe I didn't play perfect like yesterday or the day before," Nalbandian said. "In the second and third set, he started serving better, and the rallies were very good. He hit a lot of lines."

The sixth-seeded Davydenko lost the first set in 28 minutes, winning just four points on Nalbandian's serve as the Argentine won 79 per cent of points on his first serve. Davydenko made 13 unforced errors, mostly from the back of the court.

Accurate forehands

The Russian picked up his game in the second set, improving his serve and pinning Nalbandian to the baseline with accurate forehands.

Nalbandian found himself under pressure on serve at 6-5 down in the 12th game. He double-faulted and lost the second set when he hit the ball into the net after Davydenko had returned his weak second serve.

Davydenko said Nalbandian forced him into mistakes because he had to use more top spin to contain the Argentine's powerful ground strokes, but said his performance this week will help him at the Masters Cup.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, number two Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Andy Roddick are also all qualified for the Masters Cup, beginning November 9.

Federer pulled out before his quarterfinal against Blake on Friday because of a sore back and Nadal retired during his quarterfinal against Davydenko because of a knee injury.