Juan Carlos Ferrero, the third seed, ended the French Open reign of defending champion and fellow Spaniard Albert Costa 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to reach the men's singles final for the second straight year today.
It was sweet revenge for the 23-year-old Ferrero, who lost last year's trophy at Roland Garros to his countryman.
After coming through a Grand Slam record of four five-set matches and having given his opponents a two-set start on three occasions Costa, seeded ninth, had very little left in the tank, and had to come up with something big to get past Ferrero, bursting to win his first Grand Slam.
"I was a bit tired this afternoon," admitted Costa. "But I hope to come back again next year and go one further again."
"I hope Juan Carlos goes on to win the tournament this year," he added.
Ferrero got off to a flying start in the first set breaking his opponent's opening serve, to build up a comfortable 4-1 lead, staving off two break points against him in the sixth game with aces.
But signs of nerves began to show as Costa fought back and Ferrero was broken to love while serving for the set, before stealing himself to come straight back breaking 27-year-old Costa to take the set in 49 minutes.
The defending champion looked set to begin his famed fightback when he broke Ferrero in the opening game of the second set, taking a two-game lead, and in the sixth game saved break points.
Ferrero fought his way back on equal terms to force a tie-break which he won.
Even at two sets up the man from Onteniente knew better than to write off Costa, who has not won a title since his maiden Grand Slam win here 12 months ago.
Despite a scare or two Costa desperately hung on but signs of tiredness began to show in the seventh game of the third set when Ferrero got the break to lead 4-3 after his opponent's jaded legs went from under him as he attempted a baseline return.
Ferrero moved in for the kill, but his flagging opponent defended with pride, conjuring up winners to hold serve for 4-5.
Ferrero pounded down his seventh ace and went 40-0 for three match points, the first of which Costa saved when Ferrero netted.
But last year's runner-up made no mistake on his second to put the duo on equal terms with three wins each in six meetings.
"With all the sets he'd played until now it's normal that he wasn't at his best," said Ferrero after the 2hr 44min match.
"I felt fresh and really wanted to win. I hope that I'll have a better memory of this final and that I'll grab this opportunity.
Ferrero was playing in his fourth straight semi here, a run which matches those of former greats Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl and Jim Courier, and now wants to move a step forward for his tenth title and first Grand Slam trophy.
He has already defeated the 24-yer-old Verkerk in their only previous meeting on clay at Kitzbuhel last year but who is playing like a man inspired in this tournament.