Tursunov beats Blake to reach Indianapolis final

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Defending champion Dmitry Tursunov fought back from a set down to upset top seed James Blake 4-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the final of the Indianapolis Championships on Saturday.

The Russian will now face Gilles Simon after the Frenchman reached his first career ATP final in the United States with an exciting 6-3 4-6 6-4 win over local favorite Sam Querrey.

Blake came into the match riding the momentum from a dominant performance in the quarter-finals where he dispatched Lu Yen-hsun 6-2 6-0. And he looked strong through the first set, where he held his serve comfortably.

However, Tursunov produced a strong service set of his own, recording four aces on the way to taking the second.

Tursunov broke Blake's service twice in the final set, and fended off a late charge by saving a break point in the final game.

The Russian has the chance to join Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick as the only players in the last three decades to defend the tournament title.

In the other semi-final, Simon triumphed in sultry conditions against a tired Querrey in the first meeting between the pair.

The 23-year-old Frenchman cruised through the first set with his opponent visibly struggling in the humid heat.

Simon was 4-2 up in the second set and looked to have the match in the bag but, after receiving some treatment, Querrey found the energy and determination to fight back and take the set and go into a third.

The advantage ebbed and flowed in the decisive set but a superb backhand from Simon at 4-4 turned the contest his way and booked him a place in Sunday's final.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Peter Rutherford)