Nadal survives Gulbis scare to reach Rome final

Rome: Rafael Nadal overcame a stern challenge from Ernests Gulbis to reach the Rome Masters final on Saturday, prevailing 6-4 3-6 6-4 after the Latvian had exposed chinks in the clay master's armour.

The Spaniard looked to have regained his old dominance on red dirt after an injury-hit 2009, cruising into the last four in the Italian capital after winning the Monte Carlo Masters with ease two weeks ago.

But by taking a set and causing problems throughout, the 40th ranked Gulbis, who ejected world number one Roger Federer from the tournament earlier in the week, showed a fifth title at the upcoming French Open is no foregone conclusion for Nadal.

In Sunday's final Nadal will face compatriot David Ferrer, who took advantage of Fernando Verdasco's capitulation to beat his exhausted fellow Spaniard 7-5 6-3.