and Buckeyes would not trail again.BIG

MADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal reached his seventh consecutive final since returning from a knee injury by brushing aside wild card Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-4 at the Madrid Open on Saturday. Nadal had little trouble extending his winning streak in clay-court semifinals to 46 matches, polishing off his overmatched Spanish countryman after winning the first six games on the outdoor red clay. Nadal will now have a shot at his fifth title since coming back from a seven-month layoff healing his left knee. "I couldnt have asked for a better run of results," said Nadal, a two-time champion in the Spanish capital. "Five months ago I wouldnt have dreamed of this return. I want to thank all those who supported me through that time." He will play Stanislas Wawrinka after the 15th-ranked Swiss recovered late on to edge out Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will play for both the No. 1 ranking and the womens title after each won her semifinal in straight sets. Nadal outclassed Andujar at the start. The clay-court experts surgical groundstrokes were usually enough to force Andujar to make errors -- and if not, Nadal knew when to go for a winner or approach the net to finish off the point. The worst moment for the 113th-ranked Andujar came when he ceded his third straight service game with a double fault. But in the second set Andujar shook off his jitters and had three break points for a 4-2 lead, only for Nadal to dig out of the hole and hold his serve. "I played a very, very good first set, playing aggressively," Nadal said. "Pablo played more aggressively in the second set and had a chance at a break, but luckily it got away from him." The top-ranked Williams will have a chance to win her 50th career title after beating Sara Errani of Italy 7-5, 6-2, while No. 2 Sharapova recorded her 500th career win at all levels after seeing off Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-3. Both Williams, the defending champion, and Sharapova arrive to their final in good form and with numbers to back up their bid for a title. Sharapova has won all 10 sets she has played at the tournament, while Williams boasts a 12-2 record against the Russian. "Of course its always tough against her," Sharapova said about Williams. "I havent had a win against her in a long time. But the great thing is that Im setting myself up in a position where I can try to change that around." After a skittish start, Williams rolled by Errani and broke her final service game in both sets. "I feel I played solid," Williams said. "In the second set more than in the first, I made a few less errors, which is something I needed to do." Williams said Sharapova would pose a different challenge from her previous opponents this week. "I feel this whole tournament I have only played clay-court opponents," said Williams. "All have been smaller than me. Tomorrow will be a different game, more power." On Sunday, Williams will play her first final on red clay since 2002. Last years trophy at the Caja Magica came on the experimental blue clay surface that was removed following players complaints it was too slippery. Sharapova said she was proud to have notched her 500th win. "That number is pretty significant," she said. "(And) no, (it) doesnt make me feel like a veteran." Berdych was on the brink of making his second straight final in Madrid after coming from behind to level with Wawrinka at a set apiece and then building a 4-2 lead in the third. But the Czech player squandered two break points at that stage and Wawrinka found a second wind to rally back. Wawrinka won the Portugal Open last Sunday.Replica NCAA Jerseys . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Cheap NCAA Jerseys . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. https://www.chinajerseysncaa.us/ . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Custom NCAA Jerseys . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said.ESTERO, Fla. -- A big lead was gone, and No. 8 Ohio State looked to be in trouble.Kelsey Mitchell wasnt bothered whatsoever.Mitchell scored 24 points, including 3-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter after her team fell behind, and the Buckeyes held off No. 11 Syracuse 77-72 on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. The Buckeyes (5-1) led by 15 points early in the second half before needing to rally.They just came in the rhythm of the offense, Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said of Mitchells two big 3-pointers late. Shes such a great player and makes a lot of big shots.The Buckeyes (5-1) will meet No. 5 Baylor on Sunday in the championship game.Theyve got a great team, talented, well-coached, McGuff said of the Bears, who rolled past DePaul in Saturdays other semifinal. Theyre the biggest team in college basketball and weve got a great challenge on our hands. But thats why we came to this tournament.Sierra Calhoun scored 19 points, Stephanie Mavunga had 13, and Shayla Cooper grabbed 10 rebounds for Ohio State.Alexis Peterson led all scorers with 29 points for Syracuse (4-2). Brittney Sykes had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Gabby Cooper scored 12 for Syracuse -- which will meet No. 18 DePaul in the consolation game Sunday.Petersons 3-pointer from the left wing with about 40 seconds left tied the game at 72. But she was called for a blocking foul as Mitchell dribbled near the sideline on the next Ohio State possession, and the Buckeyes star coolly hit both to put her team back up by two.Another free throw made the lead 75-72, and Petersons deep 3-point try from the right wing in the final seconds was short. A pair of free throws then closed the scoring.We played really well in the second quarter and the sstart of the third quarter, McGuff said.dddddddddddd Then our defense really started breaking down and you cant give a team like Syracuse open 3s.Syracuse needed only 1:49 of the first quarter to put together an 11-0 run, with four different players doing the scoring and the last three baskets in that stretch all coming from 3-point range.But the Buckeyes controlled much of the rest of the half, taking a 44-34 lead into the locker room and pushing the margin out to 15 early in the third quarter.Syracuse wasnt done.A 7-0 run got the Orange within two late in the third, and Sykes layup with 7:37 left put Syracuse back on top 62-60. Thats when Mitchell answered with the back-to-back 3-pointers, and Buckeyes would not trail again.BIG PICTURESyracuse: The Orange have now dropped two of their last three games after a 3-0 start to the season. Each of those three games have been of the down-to-the-wire variety. ... Cooper was 4 for 16 from the field -- 0 for 1 from 2-point range, and 4 for 15 from 3-point range.Ohio State: Both of the Buckeyes games in the tournament so far have been close in the fourth. ... Ohio State outscored Syracuse 32-16 in the paint.SPLIT DECISIONPeterson went 1-1 on Saturday.The native of Columbus, Ohio was rooting for No. 2 Ohio State to beat No. 3 Michigan in football earlier in the day -- and the Buckeyes took care of her wishes, prevailing 30-27 in double overtime. But her wish to beat the Buckeyes fell short, despite her season-high point total.UP NEXTSyracuse: Faces No. 18 DePaul on Sunday in the tournament consolation game.Ohio State: Faces No. 5 Baylor on Sunday in the tournament championship game. ' ' '