Reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal reached his first final of the year by rolling over Carlos Berlocq 7-6(7), 6-2 on Saturday at the ATP Argentina Open.
The 28-year-old Spanish left-hander faces Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the final. Nadal will be trying to equal Guillermo Vilas’ all-time record of 46 titles on clay. Nadal rallied in the opening-set tie-breaker from a 6-1 deficit to win and then clinched the match when Berlocq hammered a forehand long on the first match point.
Earlier in the day, Monaco beat Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 to book his spot in the final.
Monaco reached his 20th career ATP final and is competing in his third final on home soil.
The results: At Buenos Aires: Argentina Open: Semifinals: Juan Monaco bt Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Carlos Berlocq 7-6(7), 6-2.
At Acapulco: Mexican Open: Final: Women: Timea Bacsinszky bt Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-0.
Men: David Ferrer bt Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-5.
At Dubai: Dubai Open: Final: Roger Federer bt Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5.
At Doha: Qatar Open: Final: Lucie Safarova bt Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3.
