Brasil Open. Nadal to face Nalbandyan in Sao Paulo final

Top seed Rafael Nadal was extended to three sets for the second day in a row, but advanced to reach the Brasil Open 2013 final in Sao Paulo. In Saturday’s semi-finals, the Spaniard rallied to defeat Argentina’s Martin Alund 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1 in just under two hours. He had also needed three sets to get by Carlos Berlocq in the quarter-finals.

"I didn’t play well today. It’s complicated to play well with these conditions, for my style of play," said Nadal. "It’s complicated to control the ball and I’m struggling to be able to play aggressive and to be able to control the situation," he said, adding that his knee hurt more on Saturday that it did earlier in the week. "When my knee hurts, I cannot move well and when I cannot move well, I cannot hit the ball well."

The 26-year-old Nadal is through to his second ATP World Tour final in as many weeks, having made his comeback from a seven-month injury lay-off last week with a runner-up showing at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar (l. to Zeballos).

Nadal doesn't believe he is the favourite."The conditions are much more favourable for David," said the Spaniard, who added he was pleased about being able to reach two consecutive ATP World Tour finals after seven months away from the sport he loves.