Thanasi Kokkinakis is one win away from claiming the title in California on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour after a straight-sets semi-final victory over Thomas Fabbiano.

The Australian fourth seed dispatched the Italian top seed 7-5, 6-1, his best win of the four so far in California.

Earlier this week, Kokkinakis defeated fellow countryman Max Purcell in the opening round before victories over Japan's Kaichi Uchida and Indian eighth seed Prajnesh Gunneswaran.

Close to the title: Thanasi Kokkinakis. Credit:AP

The tournament's past winners include Pat Rafter in 1993, the first of five Australians champions - the others are Michael Hill in 1999, Chris Guccione in 2009, Marinko Matosevic in 2010 and John Millman in 2015.