Five-time champion Rafael Nadal produced a decidedly patchy effort Saturday in recording his 500th career win to reach Sunday's Barcelona Open final where he will meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer
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| Right: Spaniard Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Croatia's Ivan Dodig during Saturday'su00a0 Barcelona Open semi-final. |
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Nadal managed a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 56th-ranked Croatian Ivan Dodig, which saw the 24-year-old become the second-youngest player ever to reach the 500-win milestone after Bjorn Borg, who was 23 years, seven months.
The Mallorcan will play for his sixth title in seven editions at the Real Club de Tenis against Ferrer, who shrugged off a calf injury worry to reach his second straight claycourt final by defeating Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal beat Ferrer a week ago for an historic seventh straight trophy at Monte Carlo.
Nadal enters his title bid with wins in 74 of his 76 sets on clay with a Barcelona win-loss record of 29-1.
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