Briton Dan Evans has reached his second ATP Tour final with an upset victory over John Isner at the Delray Beach Open in Florida.
Less than a year after his return from a 12-month cocaine suspension, qualifier Evans staged a remarkable turnaround after a slow start against Isner to prevail 3-6 6-2 6-3 in the first semi-final.
"You have to stay resilient in the sport because it's so up-and-down," Evans said.
"Obviously, my downfall was by my own wrongdoing. Let's say mine was a mental issue."
Evans previously appeared in a final at the 2017 Sydney International, where he was beaten by Gilles Muller.
In Sunday's final, Evans will play world No.82 Radu Albot with both players in search of a maiden ATP title.
Moldova's Albot dropped the first set against American Mackenzie McDonald before he win 12 consecutive games to win 3-6 6-0 6-0.
McDonald visibly faded after he closed out the opening set and once he failed to take advantage of two break points in the first game of the third set the match was as good as over.
American second seed Isner took command early when he broke Evans in the second game and won the first set without facing a break point as his booming serve held him in good stead in blustery winds on the outdoor hardcourt.
Evans fought back, however, and managed to break Isner twice in quick succession to capture the second set.
The world No.148 Evans broke again in the second game of the final set, aided by an Isner foot fault, and closed the match in style with four first-serve winners to clinch the final game to love.
Isner, who has reached the last four at Delray Beach three times without progressing to the decider, had held serve in all 31 service games he played this week until Evans broke him three times.
"There's something about the semi-finals here, good lord," Isner said.
"It's getting to me now.
" I think tactically I did some things poorly today and that's what cost me."
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