Nishikori to play Andujar in Barcelona Open final

Barcelona, Spain: Defending champion Kei Nishikori is back in the final of the Barcelona Open after beating Martin Klizan of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2 Saturday.

The top-seeded Japanese will face Spaniard Pablo Andujar in Sunday's final after he ousted third-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Klizan had won their only previous match at last year's French Open, but Nishikori dominated their second meeting on the same outdoor court where he won his first clay-court title.

Nishikori won the first five games of the match and saved all six of Klizan's break points.

The 25-year-old Nishikori is seeking to add to his eight career titles.

"I am really excited to come into the final again here," Nishikori said. "I played a really solid match today, everything was perfect."

Nishikori had another strong start by claiming 21 of the first 27 points with a complete mix of winning shots, including a beautiful lob that fell on the line.

Nishikori closed out the first set with a slicing backhand approach shot and broke Klizan early in the second set to win in 1 hour, 17 minutes.

Andujar hit 32 winners to Ferrer's 19 and finished off the upset with a drop shot that Ferrer couldn't reach.

Andujar, ranked 66th, had not taken a set from the eighth-ranked Ferrer in three previous losses.

"This is one of the best matches I have played in my life," the 20-year-old Andujar said.