Tennis: Murray to play Nadal in final

Andy Murray has moved into the final of the Madrid Open with a straight sets win over Japan's Kei Nishikori. Photo / Getty

Andy Murray continued his flawless start to the European clay court season by reaching the final of the Madrid Open with a 6-3 6-4 win over Kei Nishikori on Saturday.

The world number three won his first ever clay title last weekend in Munich and will now face nine-time French Open champion and home favourite Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final.

Nadal stayed on course for a third consecutive Madrid title by earlier beating Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.

"Tomas is a player that is playing spectacularly this year, he is competing in all the tournaments and I had to be at a high level to beat him," said Nadal.

"It is without doubt one of the best matches I have played all year.

"Last year Madrid helped me a lot and this year I think it is again."

Nadal has yet to win a tournament this year on the European clay after falling to world number one Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals and a stunning defeat to Fabio Fognini early at the Barcelona Open last month.

However, the nine-time French Open champion showed signs of his best form back on his favoured surface in sealing victory in temperatures which nudged 30 degrees in just under two hours on court.

Nadal was blown away by Berdych earlier this year in the Australian Open quarter-finals, but always looked sure to extend his record over the world number seven to 7-0 on clay after edging a tight first set on the tie-break with neither player able to break serve.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion finally broke through Berdych's resistence in a marathon fourth game in the second set on his third break point opportunity to lead 3-1 and won the next three games to reach the final in the Spanish capital for a seventh time.

-AAP