Inspired Nadal reaches Wimbledon final

LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) An inspired Rafael Nadal beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-1 7-5 6-3 today to set up a dream final against triple Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.

In doing so the second seed set up a repetition of last month's French Open final in which he beat Federer and also became the first Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon men's singles final since Manuel Santana in 1966.

''It's very emotional, it's a dream being in this final,'' said world number two Nadal, who has beaten Federer four times already this year, three of them on clay.

''But this is his place, I'll just try my best,'' added the 20-year-old who now gets to try to end Federer's incredible 47-match winning streak on grass.

Those who doubted Nadal's ability to bring his claycourt bag of tricks to London and make them work on Wimbledon's slick grass must now be eating their words.

The Spaniard produced tennis of a stunning quality, laced with pounding forehand winners, diving volleys and variety of serving that meant he was never broken.

Add to that his miraculous powers of recovery and the odds were stacked heavily against the 21-year-old Baghdatis.

Even so, he said: ''It's been fun being here, I've started to like grass. I had my chances today but didn't take them.'' BRUTAL OPENER Those chances came in the second and third sets after Nadal had taken the opener in 30 brutal minutes.

The match seemed to be slipping away from Baghdatis in the second set when Nadal led 1-0 and was up 0-40 on the Australian Open runner-up's serve.

Baghdatis held on, however, and from then on matched the Mallorcan for long periods.

Nadal came under increasing pressure on his serve and was forced to save a break point at 3-3. He was under threat again at 4-4, 30-30, but came up with a stunning flicked crosscourt backhand after Baghdatis had charged down a drop shot.

The rallies increased in intensity and Baghdatis saved two set points in the next game. At 5-6 Baghdatis cracked under Nadal's relentless pressure and the Spaniard clubbed away a forehand to move two sets ahead.

Nadal earned the crucial break in the fourth game of the third set with a point that perfectly summed up why he has become almost impossible to beat on clay.

First he ran down a delicate drop shot, then threw himself across court to cut off a Bagdatis passing shot before ending the point with a reflex volley off the net tape.

Baghdatis smashed his racket against his head in frustration and his mood was not helped when he got a bad call at 2-4 with Nadal a break point down.

That proved his final fling and Nadal ended the contest with a smash after two hours and 26 minutes.

Should he do the unthinkable and beat Federer, Nadal would become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win Wimbledon straight after triumphing at Roland Garros.

Reuters PDS VP0155