BARCELONA (Reuters) – World number one Rafael Nadal beat Russian third seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open yesterday to stay on course for a fifth successive title at the Catalan event.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the Spanish top seed will play compatriot David Ferrer today after the fourth seed came back from a set down to defeat fifth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 2-6 6-2 7-6. World number eight

Davydenko had three break points early in the match but failed to capitalize and Nadal found his range on the clay in breezy conditions to break twice and take the opening set.

After losing his serve again in the second set, Davydenko failed to convert chances to break back and Nadal sealed victory on the Russian’s serve on his first match point with a thumping backhand drive that caught the line.

“It wasn’t a great performance but I didn’t make too many errors,” the 22-year-old Mallorcan said at a news conference.  “It was a hard match, even if that is not necessarily reflected in the result.”

Nadal has only lost four times on clay since 2005, most recently to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of last year’s Rome Masters.