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Rafael Nadal Reaches Madrid Open Final, Gaining Momentum on Clay

MADRID — Rafael Nadal is putting his wobbly clay court season back on track at the Madrid Open as he prepares his bid to win a 10th French Open title.

“Every moment of the season is different,” Nadal said after booking his place in Sunday’s final by winning, 7-6, 6-1, against Tomas Berdych, the Czech player who had soundly beaten Nadal this year at the Australian Open.

Nadal has yet to drop a set in front of his adoring Spanish fans. But until Madrid, and by his own high standards, this was one of Nadal’s poorest seasons, including on his slower and beloved clay.