Top seed James Blake [ Images ] will play tournament specialist Xavier Malisse in the Delray Beach International final on Sunday.

American Blake, the world number six, beat Germany's [ Images ] Benjamin Becker 6-3, 7-6 after Belgian Malisse had crushed Vincent Spadea 6-2, 6-2 in windy conditions on Saturday to reach the final for the fifth time.

There was little to separate Blake and Becker who were level at 2-2 when rain stopped their semi-final for almost an hour. When the match resumed, Blake broke serve and went on to clinch the set.

The second set went to a tight tiebreak and Blake finally clinched it 9-7 to see off the fourth seed.

Third seed Malisse, who lost to Tommy Haas [ Images ] in last year's final, eased to his 199th career victory against American Spadea.

"Hopefully, I'll get to 200 tomorrow," Malisse told reporters. "There was a little less wind than I thought today and I felt good. My serve's getting better every day."

Malisse's record against the world's top-10 players is solid with 10 wins in 27 matches. He beat world number two Rafael Nadal [ Images ] in the Chennai semi-finals last month.

Malisse laughed off suggestions from reporters that a recent decision to cut off his trademark ponytail would weaken him.

"It has been seven years," he joked. "I needed the change."