Nishikori beats Gulbis to reach Barcelona final

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Barcelona Open. Gulbis' big serve

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Barcelona Open.

Gulbis' big serve failed to counter Nishikori's faster movement on the outdoor red clay at the Real Club de Tenis.

Down a set, ninth-seeded Gulbis saved seven break points in the second before finally ceding his serve and losing the 85-minute match.

Fourth-seeded Nishikori will be seeking his second title of the season and fifth in his career on Sunday.

Nicolas Almagro, who ousted eight-time winner Rafael Nadal on Friday, faces Santiago Giraldo in the other semifinal.