Spaniard Rafael Nadal withstood a late fightback by Novak Djokovic to beat the world number three 6-4 6-2 7-6 at the French Open on Friday and muscle his way into the final for the fourth consecutive year.
The three-times defending champion saved a set point in the third set to win in two hours 49 minutes.
"It was a very high quality match," said Nadal, who is still unbeaten at Roland Garros. "I am just very happy to be in the final again."
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The Spaniard broke Djokovic in the opening game of the second set and the third seed capitulated in the face of Nadal's relentless hitting.
The Spaniard played a brilliant tiebreak, winning it 7-3 to clinch a victory that ensures he will stay ahead of Djokovic as the world number two.
Nadal is only the third man in the Open Era, after Borg and Ivan Lendl to reach the final in four successive years.
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