Ferrer in Rome final after Verdasco capitulates

Rome: David Ferrer took advantage of Fernando Verdasco`s spectacular capitulation to beat his fellow Spaniard 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday and reach the final of the Rome Masters.

Ferrer, the 13th seed, knocked out world number five Andy Murray on his way to the last four but he looked outgunned by his in-form opponent early on.Sixth seed Verdasco, who had beaten Ferrer en route to winning last week`s Barcelona Open, produced some glorious shots to race 5-1 ahead. But his concentration snapped and he threw away the commanding position, losing the next eight games to go a set and 2-0 down in the second. Verdasco, who needed over three hours to oust world number two Novak Djokovic on Friday, staged a brief comeback, breaking Ferrer after being jeered by the crowd for his wild shots.But he surrendered serve again and subsequently slumped out and his grimacing look suggested he may have been hindered by a physical problem. Rafael Nadal, aiming for his fifth Rome title in six years, takes on Latvian Ernests Gulbis, the man who ejected world number one Roger Federer, in the other semi-final later on Saturday. Bureau Report