Rafael Nadal beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to stretch his winning streak to 71 matches as he booked into the final of the Barcelona Open.
Nadal was due to face Argentine Guillermo Canas in yesterday's final.
Canas took another step down the road to rehabilitation following a drugs ban by defeating Agustin Calleri 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.
Nadal is bidding to become the first man since Mats Wilander in 1982-1984 to lift three straight titles at the clay court event.
Top seed Nadal now stands 15-1 at the Real club with his only loss coming to countryman Alex Corretja in the second round in 2003.
Nadal needed to get past a tough opening set where he twice traded breaks with Ferrer, before finally clinching it after nearly an hour.
The world number two more easily found his way in the second, exploding for three breaks of his outclassed compatriot to keep the momentum alive in a another phenomenal spring clay campaign.
His victory in one hour, 35 minutes tied him on 26 this season with Serb Novak Djokovic to lead the ATP list.
"This was a tough match," the winner said. "David is one of the most difficult of the clay players. I'm just so happy to have kept my streak alive today. I'm really excited about trying to win a third Barcelona title."
Spaniards have captured the trophy for the last four years.
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