Rafael Nadal, pushed to the limit in a high octane first set, made up for his semifinal defeat at the Rio Open a week ago by reaching the Argentine Open final with a 7-6(7) 6-2 victory over Carlos Berlocq on Saturday.
The world number four will meet a fourth Argentine in succession in the tournament, 2007 champion Juan Monaco, in Sunday’s showpiece match looking for a 65th career title and record-equaling 46th on clay.
The first set, with 74th-ranked Berlocq playing every bit as well as his multi-titled opponent, went with serve before the Argentine ran up a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak.