Nadal into Buenos Aires final

Rafael Nadal is into his first final since last June after beating Carlos Berlocq in straight sets in the last four of the Argentina Open presentado por Buenos Aires Ciudad.

The Spaniard’s ninth French Open win was the last time he had reached the final of an ATP Tour event but a 7-6 (9/7) 6-2 victory over Carlos Berlocq gives him the chance to claim his first title of the year.

He was on the verge of losing the first set tie-break after falling 6-1 down but the world number four hit back to win eight of the next nine points, and although Berlocq claimed a break at the start of the second set, he then lost the final six games to a rampant Nadal.

Nadal will face his fourth Argentinian opponent this week when he takes on close friend Juan Monaco in the final, with the former world number 10 beating Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 in a close tussle.

“It’s a joy to play this decisive match against a friend and for me it is also very important to play my first final of the year here in Buenos Aires, a place where I feel the affection of the people,” said Nadal in quotes on the ATP Tour’s website.