Two-time defending champion Milos Raonic of Canada fired 12 aces in beating US third seed Sam Querrey 6-4 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the $US547,000 ($A531,000) ATP Tour event in California.
The big-serving top seed will try to become the first player since Tony Trabert in 1953-55 to win the San Jose title three years in a row when he faces German fourth seed Tommy Haas in Sunday’s indoor hardcourt final.
Haas, ranked 22nd, defeated US second seed John Isner 6-3 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Raonic, 22, and Haas, 34, will face each other for the first time in what will be the final match in the history of the event, which will be dropped from the ATP schedule after this year.
Querrey had won both prior matches against Raonic, including last year at Wimbledon, but the World No. 13 dropped only five points on his serve in the match and never faced a breakpoint in overwhelming the American this time.
Haas fired eight aces and connected on 75 percent of his first serves while Isner, known for his big serves, had nine aces but connected on only 59 percent of his first serves.
Haas lost three of his four prior matches against Isner but they had not faced each other since 2009.