Fifth-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro advanced to the final of the Valencia Open for the third consecutive year after defeating unseeded Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday.

Almagro will on Sunday face top-seeded compatriot David Ferrer who beat Tommy Robredo 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the other semifinal.

"It's extraordinary to be playing my third consecutive final," said Almagro after his 14th straight win in the tournament.

Almagro, 22, won the Valencia Open in 2006 and 2007. They were his first two titles since he made his professional debut in 2003.

He has so far won four ATP titles.

AFP