Two-time champ Gonzalez ousted in semis from hometown tournament

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Two-time defending champion Fernando Gonzalez was knocked out of his hometown Movistar Open in the semifinals by Thomaz Bellucci 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.

Gonzalez, the top seed, was seeking his fifth Movistar title in front of his Chilean fans. He'd won 11 straight matches at the Movistar since his last defeat in the 2007 quarterfinals.

"It was a very close match," Bellucci said. "Fernando's game fell off in the third set and mine improved."

Third-seeded Bellucci of Brazil will appear in his third ATP Tour final on Sunday against second-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina.

"Monaco will be tough, but I feel very good," Bellucci said.

Monaco earned another shot at the final that he couldn't play two years ago when he brought a convincing end to the surprising run of Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza 6-1, 6-4 in the early semifinal. Souza reached the last four in his first appearance in an ATP main draw.

Monaco advanced to the Movistar final in 2008, only to withdraw against Gonzalez with an ankle sprain sustained in the doubles final the day before.

The Argentine has made it to his 10th career ATP final, all on clay. Since Monaco's third and last title at Kitzbuhel, Austria in July 2007, he's been runner-up five times, including three last year.

Bellucci's the first Brazilian to reach the final in six years.

He won his first title last August at Gstaad, Switzerland.