Tennis

Nishikori tops Paire to reach final at Barcelona

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:28 p.m. ET

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Two-time defending champion Kei Nishikori beat Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 to return to the final of the Barcelona Open.

The second-seeded Japanese will face either eight-time winner Rafael Nadal or Philipp Kohlschreiber on Sunday.

Nishikori got an early break to take a 3-2 lead before Paire ceded the first set Saturday with consecutive double faults.

The champion dominated the second set on the outdoor clay court, finishing the match with a total of five of nine break chances converted.

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