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Posted at 7:44 a.m., Friday, May 11, 2007

Nadal matches McEnroe's consecutive win record

By Andrew Dampf
Associated Press

ROME -- Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 today for his 75th consecutive win on clay, matching John McEnroe's streak for most victories on one surface.

McEnroe, who watched Nadal's latest win at the Rome Masters from a courtside seat, had a 75-match winning streak on indoor carpet between September 1983 and April 1985.

Nadal can break the record in tomorrow's semifinals against fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who rallied to beat Tommy Robredo 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Earlier, Filippo Volandri followed up his win over Roger Federer by beating 12th-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-3, becoming the first Italian to reach the final four in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1978.

Panatta was also the last Italian to win the tournament, in 1976.

"This is beyond my own expectations," said Volandri, who entered on a wild card invitation. "I had a little bit more pressure than yesterday, but I played another perfect match."

Volandri will play either sixth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Ignacio Chela, who met later Friday.

Nadal has been complaining of dizziness and a stomach problem, but his game wasn't affected.

Toward the end of the first set, Nadal hit balls on the lines and passing shots with such ease that even Djokovic applauded by clapping his hand to his racket.

Djokovic was the last player to beat Nadal -- on hard courts in the quarterfinals in Key Biscayne, Fla., in March -- but the Serb looked drained from winning the Estoril Open last week and two tough matches in Rome.

Nadal hasn't lost a set in 13 matches on clay this season. He is attempting to become the first player to win this French Open warmup three consecutive times.

Thomas Muster and Jaroslav Drobny -- a Czech player in the 1950s -- also won in Rome three times, but not in succession.