ROME, May 1 (UPI) -- Spaniards Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will meet in the championship final of the Rome Masters after both won semifinal matches Saturday.
Nadal outlasted Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in one semifinal, while Ferrer defeated fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3 in the day's first match at the Foro Italico.
No. 3 seed and four-time Rome champion Nadal had to struggle against the fast-rising Gulbis, needing three sets after dropping the middle frame.
He improved to 26-1 lifetime at the Italian Masters and gained a shot at his 17th career ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. A victory in Rome would tie him with all-time leader Andre Agassi in that category.
No. 13 Ferrer bounced back from a slow start to down the sixth-seeded Verdasco, who had jumped out to 5-1 in the first set before letting Ferrer rally to take six straight games.
Nadal holds a 10-3 career lead over Ferrer, including six straight wins.
