Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams reach Madrid Masters finals

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Nadal, VWilliams reach Madrid Masters finals

MADRID — Rafael Nadal rallied past Nicolas Almagro of Spain 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Saturday to reach the Madrid Masters final.

Venus Williams reached her first Madrid Masters final by defeating Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-0.

Nadal is 14-0 on clay this season, winning titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. He has lost only two sets during that run, and is looking for a record 18th Masters title. Nadal and Andre Agassi have won 17 each, while Roger Federer has 16.

The win will return Nadal to No. 2 in the rankings.

“Whatever happens (in the final) I can say that this season has been very good. I’d say it’s been perfect — or nearly perfect,” Nadal said.

The second-seeded Nadal made a string of early unforced errors, dropping serve three times in the opening set. He will play either countryman David Ferrer or the top-ranked Federer in the final.

“I made a lot of mistakes in the first set and Almagro was playing really well,” Nadal said. “Because he was attacking me a lot I tried to play safer in the first set — that was a mistake.”

The 24-year-old Almagro had never beaten Nadal in five previous attempts, but he kept firing forehand winners past the Spaniard.

“I’ve played at a really high level all week,” Almagro said. “And I had the best clay-court player in the world against the ropes.”

Nadal, a four-time French Open champion, broke back in the second game. Almagro won the next game at love when his opponent hit a backhand into the net, before serving to go 4-1 up.

Nadal gave a trademark shout and fist pump as he broke back again, although the unseeded Almagro coolly saved two break points at 5-4 to close out the set.

In the second set, Nadal’s groundstrokes started finding their target and he broke twice and Almagro made 15 unforced errors.

Almagro sent a forehand wide in the second game of the third to hand Nadal the key break before the 2005 champion served out the victory.

Williams improved to 12-1 on clay this year after defeating Samantha Stosur and Vera Zvonareva this week.

“I’ve played so many different players with so many different styles — some play more clay-court tennis, others just hit the ball really hard,” Williams said. “So just to come out on top so far is good, and I’m happy with my form and I’m going to try to keep that form tomorrow.”

The fourth-seeded American will play Aravane Rezai of France. She advanced after Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic retired because of a thigh injury while trailing 6-1.

Williams looked in control as she secured an early break to go up 3-1. The unseeded Peer responded immediately, earning three break points after firing a forehand pass down the line. Williams saved the first two before hitting a backhand into the net.

Williams eventually found rhythm on her serve, and closed out the first set after a break.

Williams showed her shot range with a deft drop-volley to take a 3-0 lead in the second set.

Rezai has reached the final in only her second appearance at Madrid.

She converted both of her break points against Safarova to take the first in 23 minutes, firing 15 winners in the process.