No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal has reached the Shanghai Rolex Masters final. Spaniard Nadal survived a tricky semi-final clash on Saturday. The top seed edged 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 7-5 7-6 (7-3).

Cilic saved a total of six break points in his first two service games before he took a 2-1 lead. Cilic blew three set points on Nadal's serve in the 10th game. The No. 1 seed managed to serve out for the first set in the 12th game after breaking the Croatian a game earlier.

Nadal was twice up by a break in the second set -- but Cilic fought back each time.

Cilic saved a match point at 5-4 on Nadal's serve before he forced a tie-break. Nadal, who had a 4-3 tie-break lead, won three points in a row to get the job done.

Nadal converted 3-of-12 of his break point chances and saved 3-of-5 of Cilic's break point opportunities. The Croatian fired 13 aces but it wasn't enough. The match came to an end after two hours and 11 minutes of play.

Nadal has continued his success against Cilic. The head-to-head record between the two now stands at 5-1 in Nadal's favor. The Croatian beat the Spaniard in their first-ever matchup at Beijing's China Open in 2009.

Nadal plays Federer next

Nadal is set to meet his big rival Roger Federer in the Shanghai Rolex Masters final.

No. 2 seed Federer found a way to edge Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 3-6 6-3 6-3. Federer now has 17 wins and six losses against del Potro.

Federer blew an early break point go up 2-1 up in the first set. Del Potro converted his first break point chance of the match in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead. The Argentine then held on to his serve to close out the opener.

Federer broke del Potro for the first time in the match in the sixth game of the second set to take a 4-2 lead. Del Potro saved two set points on his serve in the eighth game to reduce the deficit to 5-3. Yet, Federer won the set in the following game by serving out to love.

Federer broke del Potro at the beginning of the third set to take a 2-1 lead.

One more break of serve in the ninth game handed Federer the win. Del Potro blew a game point on his serve in the ninth game.

Federer hit seven aces and won 87 percent of his first serve points on Saturday. The No. 2 seed broke del Potro three times and saved the Argentine's only break point chance of the match. Del Potro hit 12 aces in an hour and 57 minutes of action.

Federer yet to lose to Nadal in 2017

It is all set for a showdown Shanghai Rolex Masters final between Nadal and Federer. The two are set to meet for the 38th time when they meet on Sunday. Nadal has a 23-14 edge over Federer coming into the match. Federer beat Nadal in the Australian Open and Miami Masters final this year, as well as in the Indian Wells Masters last-16. Nadal will certainly be eager to make amends for the losses suffered to Federer earlier this season.
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