Nadal into French Open final

Updated 15.50 Fri Jun 06 2008
Keywords: French Open, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal withstood a late fightback by Novak Djokovic to beat the world number three 6-4 6-2 7-6 in the French Open semi-finals.

The victory puts the defending champion into the final for the fourth consecutive year.

The victory puts the defending champion into the final for the fourth consecutive year

Nadal saved a set point in the third set to win in two hours 49 minutes and advance to the final against either world number one Roger Federer or unseeded Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nadal, who has never been beaten at Roland Garros, was at his brutal best from the start, pulling Serbian Djokovic all over the court and smashing winners on both sides.

One break, in the third game of the match, was enough for Nadal to win the first set.

He romped through the second but had to save a set point at 6-5 down before winning the tiebreak 7-3 to reach the final without losing a set for the second successive year.

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