Intro:

Rafael Nadal will make his seventh final appearance at the Madrid Open after beating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 in the semi-finals at the Caja Magica on Saturday (9 May).

Script:

Rafael Nadal reached his seventh final at the Madrid Open by defeating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 on Saturday.

The defending champion continued to look more like his old self and edged a tight first set before turning the screw in the second to exact revenge for a straight-sets defeat to the Czech sixth seed in this year's Australian Open quarter-finals.

Nadal had won 17 consecutive matches against Berdych before losing to the world number seven in Melbourne and restored his dominance with a solid display which included a series of trademark whipped forehand winners.

After struggles with injury and illness, the third seed is attempting to rediscover his spark on his favoured surface before he makes a bid for a record-extending 10th French Open singles title in Paris starting at the end of the month.

He won a 46th career clay title in Buenos Aires in February and is just three shy of the record of 49 held by Guillermo Vilas, but was surprisingly beaten at subsequent clay tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

With the sun beating down on centre court, Berdych saved both break points he faced in the opening set, but faded badly in the tie-break.

Nadal punished a series of errors from the 2012 runner-up to open up a 5-1 lead in the second set and sealed victory on his first match point when Berdych sent a return sailing out.

The home favourite, bidding for a third consecutive Madrid title, will face either Andy Murray or Kei Nishikori in the final.