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Sam Querrey and training partner Robby Ginepri will face off in an ATP final for the first time when they play for the title at the ATP Indianapolis Championships.

Despite frequently training together, the friends have never faced off when it counted for more than pride.

The 2005 champion Ginepri, back from an emergency appendectomy earlier this year, returned to the final with a 6-4 6-3 defeat of compatriot John Isner.

Third seed Querrey dropped serve for the first time this week, but still ensured an all-American final with a 6-4 6-4 win over Canada's Frank Dancevic.

Ginepri had to work for the win against Isner, playing his first event since getting over glandular fever. It took the winner four match points in the final game to advance.

Isner said he's still not on perfect form, but added: "Even if I'd been at 100 per cent, Robby still would have beaten me today. He put enough pressure on me to make me crack."

Ginepri, ranked 95th, won the title four years ago with about the same ranking, then carried his momentum onto a Cincinnati Masters semi-final a few weeks later followed by a place in the final four of the US Open and a loss to Andre Agassi.

"I spent nine days in hospital, it's a blessing to be back playing," Ginepri said of his spring health crisis. "This is the start of my hardcourt summer, I feel confident.

"I've made a lot of progress this week. Sam is a great server and he will keep me on the run. But it's good to be part of a US final."

Querrey, 21, claimed his lone ATP honour in Las Vegas in 2008.

"It's exciting to be back in a final. I've had three semis here and now I've finally gone past that. I've really improved my movement a lot from last season, that is key."

Querrey will be playing in back-to-back ATP finals after going down a fortnight ago in Newport on grass to Rajeev Ram. He is poised for a guaranteed move to 31st in the world, his career best.

He fired a dozen aces while holding the powerful Dancevic to just one in the 73-minute contest. Querrey also struck 27 winners and stayed cool as the Canadian staged a brief fightback in the second set.

Dancevic began a recovery from a set and 4-0 down, breaking Querry twice but failing to carry through the momentum.

AFP