World number one Roger Federer [Images] recovered from a set down to beat unseeded German Denis Gremelmayr 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to reach his first final of the year at the Estoril Open.

The 26-year-old Swiss top seed struggled to counter Gremelmayr's powerful baseline game but pulled clear with a series of aces in the third set.

• Blake, Granollers-Pujol in Houston final

He will now face the number two seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia [Images] who beat France's [Images] Florent Serra 6-2, 6-2 in the other semi-final.

• Serena to play Zvonareva in Charleston final

"I think Denis played a fantastic match," Federer, who is recovering from his worst start to a season since 2000, told reporters.

"I read reports that I struggled yesterday and I only lost five games. Today was much closer. But I'm used to it. It's almost bigger news when I lose than when I win. I guess that's a nice problem to have."

Federer, a 12 times Grand Slam winner, hit 10 aces in windy conditions to move closer to claiming his 54th ATP title.

He faces tough final on Sunday against red-hot world number four Davydenko, who has won his last 11 matches and clinched the Estoril title in 2003.

In the women's final, second-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko will be seeking her third title when she faces 2004 finalist Iveta Benesova of Czech Republic.

The unseeded Benesova beat Estonia's Maret Ani 6-2, 6-1 while Kirilenko beat sixth-seeded Czech Klara Zakopalova 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Saturday's semi-finals.

• Complete tennis coverage
• All you want to know about Sania Mirza