MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) - World number two Rafael Nadal will face fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the Sony Ericsson Open final after semi-final victories on Friday.
The Spaniard, who reeled off the last 12 points of the match, beat Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-2 in windy conditions, while Davydenko beat Andy Roddick of the United States by the same scoreline.
Roddick looked a shade of the player who beat world number one Roger Federer on Thursday and gave Davydenko his first victory in their six career matches.
Nadal holds a 2-0 record against Davydenko in their career meetings.
"For me (it's) going to be very important because to play a final in a Masters Series event, up against the big players, I know I need to play at my best level," Nadal told reporters.
He took 70 minutes to snatch a close-fought opening set, winning the tiebreak 8-6 on his seventh set point after 10th seed Berdych double-faulted for the first time.
The second seed then breezed through the next set.
"I think I am playing this tournament very well and today was a great match too," said Nadal. "The first set was tough, especially at the end, because I had a lot of chances.
"The beginning of the set was very important. I had to be very concentrated with my serve because it was very tough in the wind."
Roddick and Davydenko produced a high quality first set, but the Russian was the only player able to maintain the intensity in the second.
Roddick took a 2-1 advantage with a service break in the second set, but surrendered the advantage in the next game when he dropped serve.
Davydenko broke again, on his fourth opportunity, with a forehand crosscourt in the sixth game and sealed victory in the eighth when a Roddick forehand dropped into the net.
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