PARIS, Nov 4 (AP): Rafael Nadal will play David Nalbandian in the Paris Masters final, and Richard Gasquet clinched the last spot in the season-ending Masters Cup despite losing his semifinal.
Nadal, seeded second, beat Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Saturday, and Nalbandian defeated 10th-seeded Gasquet 6-2, 6-4.
Gasquet already had enough points for the Nov. 11-18 tournament in China before stepping on the court because Baghdatis had lost.
Nalbandian will be going for a second straight Masters Series title Sunday after winning in Madrid last month. The Argentine dominated Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of that event.
"I think here is a little different than Madrid," Nalbandian said. "It's a little slow, and it maybe a little bit better for him."
Nadal reached his first final since July 22. Gasquet acknowledged he was "a level under" Nalbandian.
"I'm not sure I played a player as good as he is," Gasquet said. "Even when I played (Roger) Federer six times I never felt that way."
Nalbandian's backhand was at its brutal best in a fifth straight win over Gasquet.
Nadal was in trouble in the ninth game of the second set at a set down and 30-30 on his serve, but Baghdatis missed a simple pass up the line and the Spaniard broke in the next game.
Nadal reaches final against Nalbandian
FE Team | Published: November 05, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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