The No. 4-seeded Ferrer, who had been 0-5 in major semifinals, will face fellow Spaniard and seven-time champion Rafael Nadal for the title Sunday. Nadal advanced by beating No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 9-7.
Ferrer collapsed to the clay with glee when he closed out the victory. He has played in more major tournaments, 42, to reach his first final than any other man in the Open era.
Tsonga was trying to become the first Frenchman to reach the Roland Garros final since Henri Leconte in 1988, and the first to win the title since Yannick Noah in 1983.