Title-holder Tommy Haas crashed out of the Munich ATP tournament semi-finals on Saturday, the 36-year-old suffering a 6-3 6-2 defeat by Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan.
Germany's Haas, the defending Munich champion and former world number two, had few answers as he lost to Klizan in just over an hour, labouring in near-freezing temperatures and missed the chance to reach the Munich final for the third time.
"That was a bitter day for me. I don't know if that was my last time in Munich," admitted Haas, who hopes to compete in the ATP Madrid tournament next week.
In Sunday's final, the 24-year-old Klizan, ranked 111 in the world, will face top seed Fabio Fognini after the Italian's 6-3 6-1 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in the other semi-final.
Fognini, ranked 13th in the world, is chasing his third straight tournament win in Germany after the clay-court specialist won both the Hamburg and Stuttgart ATP titles last year.
"It was a difficult match, but I am happy because I am in the final on my debut here," said Fognini.
"It'll be tough, I know Martin, he plays well and although I have beaten him the past few times, I will have to be careful as a final is a special match."
Klizan has reached his second ATP final after losing in Barranquilla, Colombia at the end of March.
"Conditions were very tough today, but it was the same for both of us," said Klizan after beating Haas.
"I think I am playing very good tennis now, it will be a very tough match in the final, but I will try to play good tennis and enjoy it."
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