Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal on Saturday reached the Italian Open
final for the 12th time in his career, defeating American Reilly
Opelka by a 6-4, 6-4 margin. Nadal, who has also won the tournament
nine times so far, will be playing either defending champion and world number
one Novak Djokovic, or Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

The Italian Open final will also mark the 52nd Masters
final for the Spaniard.

Also read: Fans slam ‘double standards’ involving Barty, Djokovic in rain-hit Italian Open

Saturday’s match also marked the 500th clay court match for
Nadal, who so far has won 458 out of the 500, and losing 42.

Averting break points in the fourth game in the first set, Nadal
swiftly picked up pace against Opelka, finishing it off under one hour and 32 minutes.

In his previous match against Alexander Zverev on Thursday, too, he
had scored a straight set victory.

Also read: Italian Open: Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek head to semi-finals in rain-hit Rome

Meanwhile, the current world number one in men’s singles, Novak
Djokovic proceeded on Saturday to the semi finals of the Italian Open, fighting
it out against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in a closely fought match that lasted
nearly three-and-a-half hours, finally clinching a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.