BARCELONA (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal, bidding for a record 49th claycourt crown, reached the final of the Barcelona Open for the ninth time by beating German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-3 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The world number five from Spain next meets defending champion Kei Nishikori after the Japanese ousted Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3 6-2.<\/p>\n
Nadal will equal former Argentine great Guillermo Vilas’ record of 49 titles on clay if he wins on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“Today I played my worst game of the tournament. I don’t like the way I played because I committed too many errors,” said the former world number one.<\/p>\n
“I messed up my backhands but it was also important I only conceded one break point in the whole game, that’s the most positive thing.”<\/p>\n
Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters crown last week and said the accumulation of games affected his performance against Kohlschreiber.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been competing for two weeks in a row and it’s normal for me to have a bad day. I hope that tomorrow I can do better,” he added.<\/p>\n
“This means I\u2019m doing well and that every day I have found solutions to keep winning.”<\/p>\n
Nadal has won the Barcelona Open eight times since 2005, last lifting the trophy in 2013.<\/p>\n
Nishikori has triumphed in the last two editions and the Spaniard said the world number six would put him to the test on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“He’s having a good year,” said Nadal. “He’s a fast player and will be very difficult to beat, he gives you no time to react and is one of the best in the world.”<\/p>\n