Roger Federer gets a fifth chance to beat Rafael Nadal on clay when the world’s top two players meet for the second straight year in the Monte Carlo Masters final in Brussels.
Federer downed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday, and Nadal followed by beating 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-0, 7-5.
Federer has lost four straight times to the second-ranked Nadal on clay, including the final last year at Monte Carlo.
*Serena Williams beat Belgium’s Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-4 to give the Americans a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five opening-round Fed Cup match.
Older sister Venus Wil liams rallied to beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2. Venus fell behind 5-3 before winning 11 consecutive points.
Belgium’s top players, No. 1-ranked Justine He nin and No. 4 Kim Clijsters, declined to take part.
*Clijsters will not play at the U.S. Open, making Wimbledon the last Grand Slam tournament of her career.
After losing to Li Na of China in Key Biscayne, Fla., last month, Clijsters, 23, complained about a bad back and has found it tough to resume training.
