Italian Open | Nadal cruises into the final

Karolina Pliskova to take on Iga Swiatek for honours in the women’s section

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the Italian Open final for the 12th time on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over American Reilly Opelka. Playing his 500th clay-court match, Nadal staved off break points in the fourth game of the first set and did not look back as he made his 52nd Masters final. The 34-year-old was rarely troubled by the towering American, who was playing his first Masters semifinal.