Tiebreak fright sparks Nadal

RAFAEL Nadal defeated Carlos Berlocq 7-6 (7), 6-2 yesterday, setting up a final against Juan Monaco at the Argentina Open.

A win would see Nadal tie Guillermo Vilas for the most clay-court titles with 46.

The top-seed was on the brink of losing the first set, falling 6-1 to the Argentine in the tiebreak, but he won eight of the next nine points to make his first final since Roland Garros.

Monaco, seeking his second title at the Argentina Open, edged Nicolas Almagro, of Spain, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4 in 2½ hours.