John-Patrick Smith has advanced to the final of the Australian Open wildcard play-offs, beating Blake Mott in four sets.

The fifth-seeded Queenslander was tested by his younger opponent but surged home in the fourth set to secure a 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 victory at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Smith, who defeated top seed Andrew Whittington in the first round, again relied on strong serves and a patient defensive game to get the win.

The 27-year-old rarely went on the attack, instead tempting 20-year-old Mott to take risks and forcing errors.

He will face the winner of the second semi-final between Omar Jasika and Christopher O’Connell for a wildcard entry to the main draw of January’s Australian Open.

Jasika, the 2014 US Open boys’ singles champion, will face O’Connell later on Friday ahead of Sunday’s final.