David Ferrer sets up final clash with Steve Johnson

Johnson, who had 12 aces, led Gulbis 6-3, 4-3 when he lost serve on the only break point he faced in the entire match.

Steve Johnson of the United States returns the ball to David Ferrer of Spain during their final match at the Erste Bank Open tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, October 25, 2015.

Ferrer will play at home next week in Valencia, where he can add further points at another 500 series event.

“I will be focused for the semi-final, I did a good step to get closer to London, but nothing has changed. I’ll go to (his hometown of) Valencia next week and really try to qualify for the year-end finals”.

“He’s not consistent. In the second set he lost focus and I was able to win”.

The tireless 33-year-old will bid for his fifth title of an injury-hit season when he faces American outsider Steve Johnson in Sunday’s final.

Gael Monfils is set to meet Ferrer, after the Frenchman showed his mettle to recover from an early setback and beat Lukas Rosol 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 6-3.

There was a halt in play as Anderson received medical treatment, and from that point on, the South African failed to rediscover form as Johnson took the set and the match.

“It’s gonna be fun”.

“I respect everyone but fear no one”.

Monfils is back on court after last playing six weeks ago when he quit a US Open first-round match with a lower back problem. “I’m pleased I went out there and executed”.

Johnson fired 27 winners and committed just a dozen unforced errors while the patchy Gulbis was plagued by 29 miscues.

“Ernests was once a top 10 player and he’s had a great career”.

Johnson rallied to defeat second-seeded Kevin Anderson 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and reach his fourth career semifinal.