PARIS, (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal powered into the French Open final with a commanding straight sets victory over surprise semi-finalist Jurgen Melzer yesterday.
The Spaniard produced another near-faultless display on his favourite stage to beat the Austrian 22nd seed 6-2 6-3 7-6, celebrating his victory by kicking a ball into the crowd and leaping high into the air.
A routine-looking win got a little sticky at the end as Melzer launched a late fightback but it clearly meant the world to Nadal who now has the chance to set the record straight with Sweden’s Robin Soderling in tomorrow’s final.
“I was nervous during all the tournament, but today I was a little bit more relaxed because I was already in the semi-final,” Nadal told reporters. “I am there. I am at the last match. I am where I dreamed to be a long time ago.”
Soderling’s shock victory over Nadal in last year’s fourth round is still the Spaniard’s only defeat in 38 matches at Roland Garros which have brought him four titles.
