Sunday 1 March 2015 11:09, UK
Reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal beat Carlos Berlocq in straight sets to reach the final of the Argentina Open where he will try to secure a slice of clay-court history.
The Spaniard rallied in the opening-set tie-breaker from a 6-1 deficit to win and then clinched Saturday's semi-final match 7-6 6-2 when Berlocq hammered a forehand long on the first match point.
Berlocq looked to be on his way to taking the opening set in but Nadal fought back and claimed the advantage by winning eight of the next nine points from 6-1 down.
After falling behind 2-0 to a break early in the second set, Nadal rallied again, reeling off six consecutive games to set up a clash with home favourite Juan Monaco.
"I was serving short in the first set and he [Berlocq] was very aggressive," said Nadal. "In the second I was more aggressive and more dynamic with my shots. The tranquility and confidence gave me more energy at the end. I'm happy with the victory."
Sunday's final will see Nadal try to equal Guillermo Vilas' all-time record of 46 titles on clay, with Monaco his opponent after beating Spain's Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-4.
Monaco reached his 20th career ATP final and is competing in his third final on home soil at the Estadio Billoch Caride.
Nadal is playing in this event for the first time in 10 years, when he reached the quarter finals. He is 5-1 lifetime against Monaco and will be trying to capture his first title since claiming a ninth French Open crown in June.
"It is very important to play my first final of the year here in Buenos Aires," Nadal said.
Nadal breezed into semi-finals by defeating Facundo Arguello 6-4 6-0 and Federico Delbonis 6-1 6-1 after receiving a bye in the first round.
He has dropped a combined seven games in his last three encounters with Monaco, cruising to a 6-1 6-0 win in their most recent meeting last year at the Madrid Open.
The Nadal-Monaco matchup means the Argentina Open will be won by an Argentine or Spaniard for the 13th consecutive year. Since 2003, the champion has come from one of the two countries, including the past six by Spain and the last three by David Ferrer.
