Nadal hangs on to reach Rio final with Dolgopolov

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will face Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in the final of the Rio Open. [caption id=“attachment_1404741” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Nadal dropped a set before coming through to reach the final. AP[/caption] Nadal got a scare before defeating fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) on Saturday. Dolgopolov pulled an upset, beating second-seeded David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 on Rio’s outdoor clay. Nadal has been almost unbeatable on clay. His last loss on the surface was 10 months ago against Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters. His record on clay is now 297-21 for his career, the best in the Open era. Dolgopolov, who had beaten Ferrer only once in seven previous matches, won handily and didn’t flinch. AP