Fourth seed Gasquet, once the number one junior in the world, dropped the first set on a tie-break but came back to beat compatriot Arnaud Clement 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Gicquel survived a mid-match collapse before coming through against flashy Belgian Xavier Malisse in a final set tie-break 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.

Malisse was suffering from a groin problem in the first set but found his rhythm in the second while his opponent, who had faced some tough three-setters in previous rounds, wilted.

Gicquel recovered in the third against the 2004 finalist and led 5-2 before Malisse hit back to force a tie-break.

Gicquel breezed out to a 6-3 lead in that before finally securing the win on his third match point to qualify for the first ATP final of his career.

Clement, a winner here in 2000 and finalist in 2003, took the first set against Gasquet but thereafter the youngster's greater class shone through.

"I fought right to the end. It was frustrating to lose the first set in the decisive game having had two set points," said Gasquet.