Nadal reaches final

Rafa Nadal beat Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open final yesterday with a dominant performance that he described as emotional after his long injury absence.

Nadal, who returned to action in February after seven months out with a knee problem, will have the chance to win his sixth title since his comeback when he faces Roger Federer who beat Benoit Paire 7-6 6-4 in the late night semi-final.

The sport’s dominant claycourt player was at his aggressive best in dismantling the heavy hitting Berdych, breaking in the first and fifth games of a one-sided first set before clinching a decisive advantage in the ninth game of the second.

Nadal wrapped it up when his opponent sent a backhand return long and then said he could not have hoped to be playing better after his lengthy lay-off.

“I am feeling better physically,” the 11-times grand slam winner said.

“These are emotional moments for me as I think I have managed to turn around a situation in which after many months of doubts and injuries I am able to play my tennis at a level that I would not have dreamed of four months ago.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Serena Williams crushed Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 to book her place in the women’s final and extend her winning streak to 23 matches.

Williams, who is chasing a fourth consecutive tour title, will face Victoria Azarenka in today’s final after the third seed beat Sara Errani 6-0 7-5.

Williams’s unbeaten run has included title successes in Miami, Charleston and Madrid and she is chasing a first Rome title since 2002, the year she won her only French Open.