Buenos Aires, Argentina (SportsNetwork.com) – Rafael Nadal is a step closer to
another clay court title after beating Carlos Berlocq in the semifinals of the
Argentina Open on Saturday.
The top-seeded Nadal battled to a 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 win over the local favorite
Berlocq and will try to win his 46th career clay court title Sunday at Buenos
Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
Nadal, who has 64 titles overall, will face another Argentine favorite, past
Buenos Aires winner Juan Monaco.
Monaco defeated 2011 champion Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in two hours
and 27 minutes and is chasing his ninth career title. He captured the Buenos
Aires crown in 2007.
Nadal is 5-1 all-time against Monaco, with the only loss coming at the 2007
ATP Masters tournament in Cincinnati when he retired during the second set
because of knee and wrist injuries.
Sunday’s winner will collect $91,050.