Gasquet, Paire win Montpiellier semifinals

MONTPELLIER, France, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Third-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet advanced to the finals of the Open Sud de France Saturday by topping Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in three sets.

Gasquet triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and will meet his eighth-seeded countryman Benoit Paire in Sunday's championship match.

Gasquet improved to 13-1 for the year and will be playing for his second title of the season when he squares off against the 23-year-old Paire.

Paire also needed three sets to make the finals. He rallied after losing the first set and prevailed over Michael Llodra of France 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Paire scored 17 aces Saturday and broke Llodra's serve four times.