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Robin Soderling was forced to pull out of his Stockholm Open semi-final, leaving Marcos Baghdatis to face Olivier Rochus in the final.

The effects of a long season caught up with the Swedish world number 10, pictured, who is just a place away from a possible spot in next month's eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The turn of events means Baghdatis, of Cyprus, will play in his first final since Halle in the summer of 2007.

Rochus, meanwhile, survived a roller-coaster semi-final to beat Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-3.

Soderling (pictured) still has a week to make a decision on his fitness, with his next event in Valencia starting on November 9 followed by the Paris Masters.

"Doctors tell me I can't make it worse, so if it feels better in a week than maybe I can play Valencia," said this year's French Open finalist.

"I could tell in my quarter-final on Friday that it might be my last match here. I want to play as soon as possible but I'll give the injury some time.

"It's an elbow muscle that I've over-used. I'll play again as soon as I can."

Soderling stands provisionally ninth for a year-end spot behind Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open runner-up, said his place in the final was bittersweet.

"I'm sorry for Robin, it's not easy to retire, especially when you're playing at home," he said of the two-time Stockholm finalist.

"But obviously I'm happy to get through to the final. I need some points and my ranking is not so good right now.

"I knew it would not have been an easy match for me today. He was the favourite, playing with the home support and indoors. So I'm just happy to get through."

Baghdatis claimed his last title in Zagreb in early 2007 and won his only previous meeting with Belgian Rochus on clay in Rome three years ago.

Rochus held his nerve despite losing two breaks of serve which had given him a 4-0 margin in the final set against world number 45 Bellucci.

"In the third set, I was leading 4-0 and he came back with two breaks. He was taking more risks and it was all working for him," Rochus said.

"But then he made a few errors and I played an incredible last game to finish strong. It was a very good match, but tough physically. I couldn't believe I had won at the end.

"It's been a week I'll never forget. Stockholm seems to bring me luck. I've had some great results in the past and now this is even better. I never expected to get to the final this week.

"I had to play just point by point. Somehow I managed to win. I stayed positive and didn't give up, that's why I won."

AFP