Updated at 16.20.
RAMPANT RAFAEL NADAL stayed on course for a third successive title by beating a tenacious Marin Cilic in straight sets to reach the final of the Shanghai Masters.
The world number one claimed the US Open and China Open titles in his last two tournaments and stands on the brink of a first Shanghai triumph after seeing off Cilic 7-5 7-6 (7-3) on Saturday.
Nadal has now won 16 consecutive matches and will face old foe Roger Federer in the final following a fifth success in a row over Cilic, who has not beaten the Spaniard since their first encounter eight years ago and is still not assured of a place in the ATP World Tour Finals.
Top seed Nadal can claim a 31st ATP Masters 1000 title if he wins Sunday’s showdown, which would break a record he currently shares with Novak Djokovic.
Elsewhere, Maria Sharapova will face teenager Aryna Sabalenka in her first final since serving a drugs ban after coasting to a straight-sets victory over defending champion Peng Shuai in the Tianjin Open.
The five-time grand slam champion has not dropped a set this week and stands on the brink of a 36th WTA singles title – and a first since May 2015 – following a 6-3 6-1 demolition of third seed Peng on Saturday.
Sharapova set the tone by breaking in the first game of the match and did not allow Peng a sniff of fighting back in the first set, breaking for a second time after losing only six points on serve in the opener.
The former world number one pressed home her advantage, opening up a 3-0 lead in the second set and saving the only three break points she faced in the fifth game to lead 4-1.
Sharapova broke again in the next game and needed only one match point to serve out the match, setting up a showdown with the 102-ranked Sabalenka.
- Omni
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What has gone wrong with Athletes in Ireland. It must be our worst ever Olympics. The Irish records for field events like the shot put dates back to the 1980′s. Yes we can’t get thousands of women out jogging and mini marathons. There is no one moving into the sport. The men are no better. We have one last hope Robert Hefferen in the 50 k walk. Best of luck to him.
The banks. It’s the bankseses’ fault.
And Enda Kenny.
Any person who makes it to the Olympics is as a result of huge dedication sacrifice hard work so we should be very very proud of each and everyone of them. Well done you all especially our own
It’s one of our best Olympics!
Not in athletics it wasn’t. They were an embarrassment.
Thankfully our boxers’ successes overshadowed our embarrassing results in athletics.
Track and field in Ireland is just a disaster. One flop after another these games, very few PBs or SBs from our athletes compared to other nations where there athletes are peaking at the right time.
the boxers win because they are hungry…some of the other athletes come from privileged backgrounds