Rafa Nadal continued his serene progress in pursuit of a second consecutive Madrid Open crown when he swept past Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista 6-4 6-3 yesterday to secure a berth in today’s final.

The world number one, chasing a 63rd career title and a 44th on clay, has not been on top form on his favoured surface this year, losing in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

However, he has shown glimpses of his dominant best in the Spanish capital as he warms up for a tilt at a record-extending ninth French Open title starting at Roland Garros in Paris at the end of the month.

Nadal’s victory against the unheralded Bautista ended the world number 45’s best run at a Masters tournament and set up a clash with Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori who last night beat Spain’s fifth seed David Ferrer 7-6 5-7 6-3.

Nadal broke his compatriot’s serve in the opening game at the Magic Box arena but Bautista fought back to level at 3-3 before immediately losing his serve again.

He looked to have crumbled in the face of a barrage of fierce Nadal drives in the second set but raised his game to break for 4-2.

Nadal, who will be contesting his 90th career final today, broke his opponent’s serve for the fifth time in the ninth game and sealed victory on his first match point with a rasping forehand down the line.

In the women’s tournament, Maria Sharapova recovered from a second-set wobble to dispatch third seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-4 and set up a final clash against rising talent Simona Halep.

After comfortably winning the opening set and racing into a 3-0 lead in the second, Sharapova had to deal with a spirited Radwanska fightback when she won four games in a row before prevailing to secure a meeting with Halep, the fourth seed.

The 22-year-old Romanian fought back from a set down to oust fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova 6-7 6-3 6-2.

Sharapova’s chances of going one better than 2013 were boosted when Williams, the Madrid champion the past two years, withdrew on Friday with a thigh injury.