Spanish Rafael Nadal, world number 1, qualified for his tenth final of the season by defeating Croatian Marin Cilic in Shanghai, and the title will be played against Roger Federer (2nd), who eliminated Argentine Juan Martín Del Potro (23rd). ).
Nadal defeated the 5th in the world by (7-5, 7-6 (7/3)), while Federer got rid of the ‘Torre de Tandil’ by 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Argentine played the game with physical problems in a wrist caused on Friday against Viktor Troicki, which did not prevent him from taking the first set, the first that Federer gave up in the Chinese tournament.
But the world number 2 overcame and was more precise to overcome the Argentine at service on the fifth break ball of the sixth game of the second set (4-2).
Rafa Nadal is one step away from strengthening his position as ATP leader and winning the 31st Masters 1000 of his career.
The Spanish also sealed his 16th consecutive victory, adding those achieved at the US Open and the Peking Tournament.
But the victory against Cilic was not easy and the Mallorcan had to work hard to counter the Croatian’s serve and powerful forehand. To the point that Cilic had up to three set balls in the first round.
“We are at the highest level of our sport, so nobody wins easily,” said Nadal. “If you want to compete in the most important tournaments of the year and try to go after the victories, of course there will be close matches, and today was one of them,” added the 31-year-old tennis player.
Nadal will play his second final in Shanghai, eight years after he lost to Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
The Shanghai tournament is one of the three Masters 1000 that are not yet on his track record, along with those in Paris and Miami.
In case of victory on Sunday, Nadal would add his 76th title on the ATP circuit, and the seventh of the year after Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Roland-Garros, US Open and Beijing.
It will be the 38th time that Nadal and Federer meet, with a balance of 23 to 14 in favor of the Spanish. But on the three occasions that they were measured this season, the victory went to the veteran Swiss tennis player, including the final of the Australian Open.
The Shanghai Tournament is held on a hard surface and distributes close to six million dollars in prizes (5,100,000 euros). AFP
– Results of the day of the Shanghai tennis tournament:
– Men’s individual – semifinals:
Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3)
Roger Federer (SUI / N.2) to Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG / N.16) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3