Tennis: Nalbandian to meet Ferrer in final

Heineken Open sixth seed David Nalbandian. Photo / Getty Images

David Ferrer and David Nalbandian will meet in the Heineken Open final after both cruised through their respective semifinals with relative ease.

Nalbandian was the first to book a spot in the final after the tournament's sixth seed and world number 27 beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-2 to remain on track for his 12th career title and first in Auckland.

Top seed Ferrer also advanced in straight sets beating Santiago Giraldo 6-3 7-5.

It sets up an enticing final between the tournament's top ranked player and a former Grand Slam finalist who has been in fine form during the last three days.

Nalbandian has already disposed of the second and third seeds on his way through to the final and will be looking to make it a hat-trick tomorrow.

The 2002 Wimbledon finalist has yet to drop a set in the tournament while Ferrer has been pushed to three sets twice in Auckland.

Today was a different story though as the world number seven and 2007 Heineken Open champion who spent less than 75 minutes on the court to defeat the Colombian surprise package of the tournament.

Ferrer will no doubt have a tougher match-up against Nalbandian tomorrow.

Last night Nalbandian, who has earned more than $US10m on the ATP Tour, knocked out defending champion John Isner also in straight sets.

Today Nalbandian had just one break point in the first set, coming in the ninth game, but it was all he needed to break Almagro's serve and take command of the match.

In the second set he broke Almagro early, kept the match to serve before breaking again in the always crucial seventh game which game him a 5-2 lead.

Almagro had a few chances to get into the match but Nalbandian saved three vital break points to keep control of the semifinal.

Almagro sent down eight aces although four double faults didn't help his cause.

Ferrer and Nalbandian could meet again at the Australian Open third round wafter the draw was announced this afternoon.

Nalbandian will face Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the first round while Ferrer has been matched up against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

If Ferrer, the seventh seed for the Australian Open, and Nalbandian win their opening two matches in Melbourne they'll met in the third round.

- Herald online