MADRID (AFP) - Fourth seed David Nalbandian tamed the big-serve threat of Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-4 to move into the final of the 2.425-million-euros Madrid Masters.
The Argentine, plagued by niggling injuries and without a title this season, reached his second final of 2004 with the win past world number 29 Ljubicic.
Nalbandian earned a break in the third game of the opening set, which held up, despite being forced to save two break points as he served for the set.
A break midway through the second set sealed the match, earning the 22-year-old former Wimbledon finalist a finals shot on Sunday against either popular second seed Andre Agassi or number three Marat Safin.
Ljubicic, playing in his second Masters Series semi of the season after Hamburg in the spring, found his ace count well-reduced against Nalbandian.
After banging over 27 on Friday when he beat Swede Joachim Johansson, the Croatian managed only 13, going nil-for-five on break point chances.
Nalbandian broke once per set on his way to victory. The win helped the Argentine to keep pace as he, Agassi and Safin all chase the last four spots remaining for next month's season-ending, eight-man Masters Cup.
Nalbandian improved to 30-12 this season as he reached the final without the loss of a set this week.
Nalbandian's season has been a shambles as he dealt with ankle, abdominal and thigh injuries. His high point came as he reached the final in Rome, losing to Spain's Carlos Moya.
10/23/2004 - 14:35 GMT - AFP