Sargsian will contest his second final this month, having reached the last stage of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow before losing to American Taylor Dent.

"It wasn't as easy as it might have looked," Sargsian said. "He (Schuettler) didn't play his best match and I also had some luck on my side today."

Germany's Schuettler, ranked number six in the world, had not dropped a set in his three previous matches but he failed to produce his usually reliable game against a persistent Sargsian.

The 30-year-old Armenian, who had not reached a final in six years before finally breaking his dry spell in Moscow, attributes his current form to his new Austrian coach Gunter Bresnik.

"Since I met him two years ago, my game has found a different level," said Sargsian, who broke into the top 50 for the first time in his career after Moscow.