MADRID — Rafael Nadal cried for countryman Seve Ballesteros, then went out and extended his dominance on clay to beat Roger Federer in front of the Spanish fans.
The top-ranked Nadal rallied to reach his third straight Madrid Open final with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 victory Saturday. The surging Novak Djokovic awaits after the Serb rallied to beat unseeded Thomaz Bellucci, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The first match got off to a somber start, with Nadal tearing up during an homage to the golf great, who died Saturday.
Nadal controlled the early stages before uncharacteristic errors allowed Federer back into the match to win the first set. Nadal took command after that, converting four break points over the next two sets to win his 37th straight match on clay.
Earlier, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus ended German Julia Goerges’ 10-match winning streak, 6-4, 6-2, to set up the women’s final against Czech Petra Kvitova, who ousted sixth-seeded Li Na of China, 6-3, 6-1.
The top-ranked Nadal rallied to reach his third straight Madrid Open final with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 victory Saturday. The surging Novak Djokovic awaits after the Serb rallied to beat unseeded Thomaz Bellucci, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The first match got off to a somber start, with Nadal tearing up during an homage to the golf great, who died Saturday.
Nadal controlled the early stages before uncharacteristic errors allowed Federer back into the match to win the first set. Nadal took command after that, converting four break points over the next two sets to win his 37th straight match on clay.
Earlier, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus ended German Julia Goerges’ 10-match winning streak, 6-4, 6-2, to set up the women’s final against Czech Petra Kvitova, who ousted sixth-seeded Li Na of China, 6-3, 6-1.
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