Lapentti broke the eighth-seeded Spaniard six times and won 95 per cent of points on his own first serve, to win in one hour two minutes.

The 30-year-old Ecuadorean, who was once ranked sixth, will play second-seeded Filippo Volandri in Sunday's final.

Volandri advanced to his third straight Palermo final when Spain's Nicolas Almagro retired with an ankle injury while trailing 6-0, 2-1.

The Italian, who lost in 2004 and 2005, broke the fourth-seeded Almagro's serve three times to take the opening set in 27 minutes.

Almagro held his opening service game of the second set, but retired after aggravating an injury he picked up in the quarterfinals Friday against Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina.

Lapentti beat Volandri in their only other meeting, also on clay, in Hamburg in 2004.