Rafael Nadal dismissed Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 to set up a Hamburg Open final against Fabio Fognini.
The No1 seed, who is looking to extend his record of having won at least one European clay-court title every year since 2004, cruised through the first set with little trouble. In the second Nadal served a double-fault at match point before breaking serve in the next game to secure his place in Sunday’s final.
The former world No1 has dropped to 10th in the rankings and is playing his first tournament since losing in the second round of Wimbledon.