Rafa sets final date

World number two Nadal needed 83 minutes to beat 10th seed Berdych, who had won the last three meetings between the pair - at Cincinnati in 2005 and Toronto and Madrid in 2006.

"He is a very good player, I knew I had to play a great match to beat him," the Spaniard said. "I am happy with the way I have been playing this week."

Nadal got off to his usual flying start breaking in the opening game and never looking back allowing Berdych just seven points as he charged to a 6-0 opening set in just 23 minutes.

But the 21-year-old Czech began to find his feet in the second set but conceded his serve with a double fault in the 11th game to leave his opponent serving for the match. Nadal then closed out the match at the first attempt as Berdych dumped a backhand into the net.