Ferrer Reaches Second Successive Final

© AFP/Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer is through to the Barcelona final for the third time.

World No. 6 David Ferrer reached his second successive ATP World Tour final on Saturday as he recorded his seventh win in seven meetings with fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-4, at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

Last week, Ferrer did not drop a set en route to reaching his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal. Earlier in the year he was victorious on hard court at Auckland (d. Nalbandian) and on clay at Acapulco, where he also defeated Almagro.

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The Valencia resident created 12 break point chances on Almagro’s serve and was able to convert three times as he sealed victory in one hour and 36 minutes. He is through to the final of this ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tennis tournament for the third time, having finished runner-up to Nadal in 2008 and 2009.

“Nicolas is going through a good moment but I played really well, maybe it was my best match of the week today," said Ferrer. "I won in two stets but it was a tough match. I returned really well throughout the match and was very focused. I am on good form, playing with a lot of confidence and I’m winning a lot of matches on clay which is important as it’s my favourite surface.”

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Almagro’s run this week means the Murcia native will be the 17th different Spaniard to break the Top 10 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings on Monday. The 25 year old, who won back-to-back titles in Costa do Sauipe and Buenos Aires in February, dropped to a 25-7 match record on the season.

Ferrer will have the chance to avenge those defeats to Nadal, as well as last week’s loss in the Monte-Carlo final, when he faces the World No. 1 in Sunday's final.

“Rafa is the best clay-court player in the history of the game," declared Ferrer. "I will try and do better than last week, play my best tennis and fight until the end.”