Kitzbuhel, Austria -- (Sports Network) - Jurgen Melzer will try for a title in his home country when he faces Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Austrian Open.

The sixth-seeded Melzer earned a 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 semifinal win over Italy's Potito Starace to become the first Austrian to reach the Kitzbuhel title match since Thomas Muster finished as the runner-up to Albert Costa in 1995.

Del Potro, meanwhile, will try for his second consecutive ATP singles crown after disposing of Romania's Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), in Saturday's other semifinal. Last week, del Potro captured the tournament in Stuttgart for his first career singles title.

The seventh-seeded del Potro has won his last nine matches and hasn't tasted defeat since a second-round setback to Stanislas Wawrinka at Wimbledon.

Melzer is just 1-5 lifetime in ATP singles finals, capturing his lone title at Bucharest in 2006. He last played in a final last year, losing in Las Vegas to Lleyton Hewitt.

The 19-year-old del Potro is 2-0 lifetime against the 27-year-old Melzer, beating him in straight sets at the 2007 U.S. Open and winning a grueling five-setter in a first-round Davis Cup tie last year.

Sunday's champion will claim a first prize of $185,000.