Matt Ebden's charge toward his maiden ATP Tour title was halted in the Atlanta Open semi-finals by the tournament's four-times champion John Isner.
The Australian fourth seed Ebden dropped his first sets of the tournament in the two-hour encounter which the American top seed won 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-1.
Isner progressed to his eighth final at Atlantic Station and is aiming for a fifth title in the past six years at the ATP 250 event.
Isner improved to 4-1 against world No.55 Ebden, rebounding for a loss in the Australian Open.
"It was tough," Isner said.
"Just like yesterday, I was able to get out early in the third set and that definitely took some pressure off.
"I'm very happy to be back in the final here. I need to get in the air conditioning and just rest so I could be ready for tomorrow."
In the final Isner will meet fellow American Ryan Harrison, who accounted for Cameron Norrie in three sets.
The eighth-seeded Harrison took one hour and 44 minutes to overcome British left-hander 3-6 6-3 6-2 to set up a rematch of last year's decider.
"I know a lot about Ryan," Isner said.
"There are no secrets there. I know a lot about him."
World No.9 Isner is 8-1 in the Atlanta semi-finals, with the lone loss coming to Andy Roddick in 2012.
Isner's only other losses in the event came in the final to Mardi Fish in 2010 and 2011 and Nick Kyrgios in 2016.
Isner won the titles in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
