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Nadal breezes into Vina del Mar final

VINA DEL MAR, Chile, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal continued to look sharp in his return from a long injury layoff Saturday with a semifinal victory at the VTR Open in Chile.

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Top-seeded Nadal rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of France's Jeremy Chardy to a gain a spot in Sunday's final against unseeded Horacio Zeballos in Vina del Mar.

The Spanish superstar -- participating in his first ATP Tour event in seven months following a knee injury -- had little trouble with Chardy and now will seek to wrap up a victory in his first appearance since June.

Nadal will be seeking his 37th career clay-court title against world No. 73 Zeballos, who gained the title match with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) semifinal victory over fellow Argentine Carlos Berlocq.

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It marks his first finals appearance since the 2009 event in St. Petersburg, where he fell to Serhiy Stakhovsky.


Hahn, Snedeker share Pebble Beach lead

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- James Hahn fired a 6-under-par 66 Saturday to forge a tie with Brandt Snedeker atop the leaderboard of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am after three rounds.

Hahn, playing on the Spyglass Hill course, birdied his final three holes to end at 12-under 202, catching up with second-round leader Snedeker.

The latter golfer, playing at the Pebble Beach course, carded his second straight 68.

Meanwhile on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Chris Kirk registered a 6-under 64 to claim sole possession of third place at minus-11.

One shot further back at 10-under 204 was Patrick Reed, who posted a 67 at Monterey.

Richard H. Lee, playing at Pebble Beach, fired a 66 to finish 54 holes in fifth place at minus-9.


Rocco Mediate's 61 earns Allianz lead

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Rocco Mediate fired a course-record 11-under-par 61 Saturday to grab a three-stroke lead at the Allianz Championship.

Mediate's stellar outing garnered him both the 18- and 36-hole records at The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. He finished the day at 16-under 128, three clear of first-round co-leader Tom Pernice Jr.

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Pernice carded a 7-under 65 while Bernhard Langer -- who had a share of the lead after Friday's first round -- registered a 67 to finish alone in third at 11-under 133.

David Frost carded a 65 to take sole possession of fourth at 9-under.

Defending Allianz champion Corey Pavin (69), Fred Funk (69), Larry Mize (67) and Mark O'Meara (67) ended the second round tied for fifth at 8-under 136.


Cilic reaches Zagreb Indoor finals again

ZAGREB, Croatia, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Marin Cilic advanced to the finals of the Zagreb Indoor in his home country of Croatia Saturday with a three-set win over defending champion Mikhail Youzhny.

The top-seeded Cilic will be seeking his third Zagreb title Sunday when he battles No. 4 seed Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the finals.

Cilic, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2010, knocked off No 3 seed Youzhny 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Melzer advanced with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win over Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

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