Rafael Nadal eyes VTR Open double in Chile

Vina del Mar, Chile (4E Sports) – Top seed Rafael Nadal looks to end an amazing comeback as he guns for the singles and doubles titles Sunday at the VTR Open.

Nadal, making his season debut this week after being sidelined for seven months with a left knee injury, will play Horacio Zeballos for the title after beating third seed Jeremy Chardy, 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinal.

Then, Nadal will partner with Juan Monaco in the doubles finals against the Italian pair of Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace.

“I’m really happy with what I’ve been doing this week,” said Nadal. “I have a good feeling on the court. So I cannot ask for anything more. I will try to play better and better every day.”

“Tomorrow, it will be a tough match against Horacio, who is playing great tennis. I hope to keep enjoying myself like I’ve been doing during this tournament and that my physical condition remains good,” added Nadal, who is eyeing to lift his 37th clay-court singles title.

Zeballos reached his second ATP World Tour final after beating eighth seed Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 7-6(4).

He has knocked off three consecutive seeded opponents en route to his first final appearance since his runner-up effort at St. Petersburg in 2009.

Meanwhile, third seed and world No. 10 Richard Gasquet and eighth seed and fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire have arranged their showdown for the Open Sud de France title after beating separate semifinal foes.

Gasquet beat Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, while Paire beat fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, to reach his second ATP World Tour final.

In Croatia, top seed and world No. 12 Marin Cilic disposed of third seed and defending champion Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, to book a spot in the PBZ Zagreb Indoors final.

In the final, Cilic will battle Jurgen Melzer, who knocked out Robin Haase of the Netherlands, 7-6(2), 6-3, in 83 minutes.

Cilic, who has a 3-2 record in indoor title matches, has a 6-2 mark over Melzer in their head-to-head showdown.

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