Thanasi Kokkinakis has watched nine break points sail him by in the decisive set to end the local hope's Adelaide International 2 title defence.

The Australia threw his biggest punches at Memorial Drive, but the craft and nerve of veteran Roberto Bautista Agut proved too much in a 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 semi-final loss on Friday night.

Kokkinakis looked to have finally cracked the 34-year-old's defence early in the third set, having earlier blazed a flurry of forehands past the world number 26 to level the match.

The Spaniard's armour held firm though, Bautista Agut saving three break points in his first service game and five more in his third.

He broke a distracted Kokkinakis for the first and only time in the match in between, the Australian briefly rattled after an incredible drop shot while back-pedalling saved one of those eight chances to break.

Bautista Agut saved another break point while serving out the match, Kokkinikas successful from just one of 12 of those crucial moments in total.

"He's a very good player, serving unreal and very good on this court," Bautista Agut said of Kokkinakis as his son ran on court to congratulate him.

A maiden winner at last year's Adelaide event, Kokkinakis will at least have an extra day's rest before a tricky first-round Australian Open clash with Italian danger Fabio Fognini.

He'll carry formidable form in too, the world number 110 having beaten number 6 Andrey Rublev and the 28th-ranked Miomir Kecmanovic on his way to the final four.

Any wins at the Australian Open will provide a rankings boost for Kokkinakis, who fell meekly in the first round last year after an emotional run to his home title.