Nadal outlasts Dimitrov to reach Beijing final
The world number one was forced into a third set before piling the pressure on the Bulgarian to reach the final of the China Open on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal was forced into a third set before piling the pressure on Grigor Dimitrov to reach the final of the China Open on Saturday.
Chasing a sixth title
The 31-year-old Spaniard, enjoying a late-career flourish and chasing a sixth title this season, beat off the Bulgarian third seed 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in their semi-final on Beijing's outside hard courts. Nadal, good friends with Dimitrov, will face German prodigy Alexander Zverev or temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios in Sunday's final.
Another final
Full screen
Dimitrov battled back from a set down to take it to a deciding third set. But with the crowd behind him and Dimitrov visibly tiring, the 16-time Grand Slam champion Nadal stepped up a gear to ram home his superiority.