Nadal, Almagro in Barcelona final

BARCELONA: Rafa Nadal moved to within one victory of an eighth Barcelona Open title in nine years when he thrashed Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-0 yesterday to set up a final against fourth-seeded Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro.
Chasing a fourth title of the year after returning from a seven-month injury layoff in February, Nadal recovered from a slow start on the clay at the Real Club de Tenis when he lost his serve in the second game to fall 2-0 behind.
The French Open champion broke straight back and again for a 4-3 lead before closing out the first set and he turned the screw in the second to secure a comfortable third win in three matches against the big-serving world No. 13.
“I am very happy to be in the final again,” Nadal said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster TVE.
“Whatever happens tomorrow it has been a great tournament for me and to reach six finals out of six since I returned from injury could hardly be better,” he added.
Almagro, who reached the semi-finals in 2006 and 2011, improved his head-to-head record against eighth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber to five wins and three defeats with a similarly clinical performance.
The 27-year-old, bidding for a 13th career title, did not face a single break point and converted four of his seven opportunities to seal a 6-2, 6-1 victory in just over 50 minutes.
“I know that Nico is playing at a very high level and has had a fantastic week,” Nadal said.
“I will try to play aggressively and dominate the points although it will be very hard against a player like him.” It was a relief for organizers to get both semifinals out of the way after the rain that has fallen throughout the week in the Catalan capital delayed the start of play.
Nadal is looking to bounce back from his defeat by Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s Monte Carlo Masters final.
The 26-year-old Majorcan, who like Raonic had to play twice on Friday because of the rain delays, extended his winning streak in Barcelona to 38 matches, his only defeat coming against compatriot Alex Corretja, now Spain’s Davis Cup captain, in the second round in 2003.
Sharapova in final
In Stuttgart, Germany, defending champion Maria Sharapova came from behind in the third set to beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 yesterday and earn a spot in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix.
The top-seeded Russian committed two consecutive double-faults to drop her serve at the start of the decisive set. But Sharapova won the last eight points and clinched the match when her third-seeded German opponent hit a backhand long. Sharapova was pushed to three sets for the third straight match in Stuttgart and wasted a chance to serve out the match in the ninth game after taking a 5-3 lead.
“I like it quick and easier but the great thing is I got through them,” Sharapova said.
Sharapova will play either second-seeded Li Na or qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the title in the indoor clay-court tournament today.
After winning in Stuttgart last year, Sharapova went on to take the French Open title as well. But she would not draw parallels between the two seasons.
“It’s too early to talk about the French Open and I don’t like to compare different years. You play different players, different conditions, but you can build confidence if you have success on the same court,” the Russian said.
Sharapova, ranked No. 2 in the world, is looking for her second title of the year after winning in Indian Wells. She would be the first player to defend her title in Stuttgart since Lindsay Davenport in 2005. Sharapova now has 15 straight wins on clay.
The Russian set the tone in the first set by breaking serve in the opening game. Kerber saved two set points but then produced a double-fault to give it away. But the German rallied in the second, twice breaking Sharapova’s serve with aggressive play.
“I lost momentum by not being aggressive,” Sharapova said.
Both players mixed sizzling winners on the lines with errors on simple shots. Sharapova was particularly inconsistent, hitting 42 winners but also producing 44 unforced errors.
But her strong finish in the last two games allowed Sharapova to collect her fourth career win against the sixth-ranked Kerber, against one defeat.
“I came through in the end, I did my job,” Sharapova said. “I am pleased how I fought in the third.”