Third seed Rafael Nadal survived a fright to reach the Rome Masters final with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 win after Latvian Ernests Gulbis had exposed chinks in the clay specialists armour on Saturday. Nadal next meets fellow Spaniard David Ferrer,who took advantage of Fernando Verdascos capitulation to beat his exhausted compatriot 7-5 6-3. Former world No1 Nadal looked to have regained his old dominance on red dirt after an injury-hit 2009,cruising into the last four here after winning the Monte Carlo Masters with ease two weeks ago. However world number 40 Gulbis,who beat top-ranked Roger Federer earlier this week,showed a fifth title at the forthcoming French Open was no foregone conclusion for Nadal. The unseeded Gulbis made a poor start,double faulting and hitting a backhand wide to surrender serve in the first game. He overcome his nerves though and Nadal had to save two break points before eventually taking the set. Gulbis seemed to grow in confidence and steamed 3-0 ahead in the second set as he bullied Nadal in several rallies. The Latvian could have had his opponent under even more pressure with his booming serves and forehands if he had not fluffed a number of chances,including a set point he netted on Nadals serve. In the final set the Spaniard failed to put away break points in the sixth and eighth games. Nadal though made no mistake when 40-0 in the last game,leaping around in delight when Gulbis hit a backhand wide. Ferrer appeared to be outgunned by sixth seed Verdasco early in the other semi-final. I was tired,not just after 5-1,ever since I woke up, Verdasco said.
