Japan’s Kei Nishikori will face Colombian Santiago Giraldo for the title at the ATP Tour’s Barcelona Open in a Sunday final that will end 11 years of Spanish domination at the event.

The last non-Spaniard to win the trophy was Gaston Gaudio in 2002.

Since then, Carlos Moya, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco and eight-time champion Rafael Nadal have kept the honours strictly in the Iberian family.

Nishikori, seeded fourth, won his semi-final against Ernests Gulbis 6-2 6-4. Giraldo upset sixth-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-5 6-3 a day after Almagro had stunned Nadal.

World number 17 Nishikori, coached by former Roland Garros champion Michael Chang, has never faced Giraldo, a player ranked 65 who will be seeking the first trophy of his career. Nishikori won a title in Memphis two months ago.

Nishikori and Gulbis, winner of five career titles, were playing for the first time.

Nishikori is competing for the first time in almost a month after suffering a groin injury which forced him to withdraw from a March Miami semi-final.

“It’s new sensation for me to play a final on clay in Europe,” said Nishikori, 21-4 on the season.

“I’m feeling more and more confident on the surface the more I play on it.”

Asia’s top player advanced in just under 90 minutes, winning on his third match point after double-faulting on his first and hitting the net with a forehand on the second.

But a return long from Latvian Gulbis gave Nishikori a third chance, with the fourth seed watching as his opponent’s return flew over the baseline.

The winner broke three times and never faced a break point. Gulbis saved break points in the second set to no avail.

Nishikori, playing Barcelona for the fourth time, had a previous best of a 2012 quarter-final at the Real Club de Tenis.

He will be playing his seventh career final and bidding for his fifth trophy.