Nadal dispatches Tsitsipas to reach Rome final

The eight-time Rome winner eased past Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to make it into his first final on clay of the season.

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his semifinal match against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept past Greece's StefanosTsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to advance to his first final on clay thisseason at the Italian Open on Saturday.

The eight-time Rome winnerhad been stunned by Tsitsipas, seeded eighth, in the semi-finals atthe Madrid Open last weekend.

But the Spaniard wasclinical on the red clay of the Foro Italico winning through in 1hr42min to maintain his record of having not dropped a set this week.

READ | Konta stuns Bertens to reach Italian Open final

Nadal next plays either world number one Novak Djokovic orArgentine Diego Schwartzman, who meet in the second semi-final.

The 32-year-old, seeded second, was playing his fourth straight semi-final,but had not managed to go further on clay this season.

His run tothe Rome final comes just a week before he starts his assault on a12th French Open title at Roland Garros.