Nadal storms past Gasquet to reach another Rome final

World number one Rafa Nadal set up the prospect of another mouthwatering claycourt final against Novak Djokovic after beating Richard Gasquet 7-5 6-1 in the Rome Masters semi-finals today.

World number one Rafa Nadal set up the prospect of another mouthwatering claycourt final against Novak Djokovic after beating Richard Gasquet 7-5 6-1 in the Rome Masters semi-finals on Saturday.

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The Spaniard, who almost pulled out of the tournament with a virus, looked back to his best, launching a blistering attack on the Gasquet serve to break at 5-5 before wrapping up the first set.

Nadal, who has won the tournament five times in the past six years, consolidated his superiority by breaking Gasquet's opening service game of the second set and two further breaks finished off the tired Frenchman.

Nadal will meet the winner of the semi-final between world number two Djokovic, who defeated the Mallorcan for the first time on clay last week at the Madrid Open, and Briton Andy Murray in Sunday's final.