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.

Published : May 18, 2019 21:25 IST , Rome (Italy)

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

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