After a commanding start, Rafael Nadal beat Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the Australian Open semi-finals, he moved one win away from a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title.
Berrettini, the seventh seed, eventually made the match a battle, but Nadal won 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.
With 20 major wins, the 35-year-old Spaniard is tied with long-time rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
In Sunday’s final, Nadal will face Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“The first two sets were some of the best I’ve played for a long time,” said Nadal, who won his only Melbourne title in 2009.
“Against a difficult opponent, a great opponent, one of the best of the world, I was able to play I think at a very high level for a long time.
“I had to suffer and I had to fight but it means a lot to be in the final again.”