Richard Gasquet's run at the Open de Moselle in Metz was ended at the semi-final stage by fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Gasquet, a former top-10 star, is attempting to climb back up the rankings after missing four months of the season successfully fighting a suspension following a positive test for cocaine.

The 23-year-old, now down at 47 in the world, registered his first ATP Tour wins since April in reaching the last four but found top seed Monfils too strong today, going down 6-4 6-3.

Monfils, who is looking for his first title of the season, will face German second seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the final after he prevented Paul-Henri Mathieu making it an all-French affair.

Kohlschreiber took the first set on the tie-break against the third seed before claiming the only break of serve in the second to edge a tight match 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Monfils and Kohlschreiber have met once before, with the Frenchman coming out on top in a deciding tie-break in Vienna last year.