South African Kevin Anderson is the first man through to the final of the Apia International in Sydney after denying Frenchman Julien Benneteau in a three-set cliffhanger.

Anderson saved two match points before prevailing 3-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) to become the first South African to make the final in 45 years of open-era tennis.

He will play the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between local hope Bernard Tomic and Italian third seed Andreas Seppi.