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Nadal comes perilously close to losing in Rio

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IANS Rio de Janeiro

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal suffered a fright before progressing to the final of the Rio Open with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) win over fellow- Spaniard Pablo Andujar.

The 13-time Grand Slam winner came close to losing his first match on clay for 10 months, saving two match points in a tense final-set tiebreak Saturday, reports Xinhua.

Nadal will meet Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in the final of the ATP World Tour 500 event.

The world No. 56 Ukrainian upset second-seeded David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 -- only his second victory against the Spaniard in eight attempts.

In the women's event, top seed Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic advanced to the final with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Brazilian Teliana Pereira.

 

She will meet Japan's Kurumi Nara, who defeated Nastassja Burnett of Italy 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

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First Published: Feb 23 2014 | 10:52 AM IST

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