Rafael Nadal cried for countryman Seve Ballesteros, then beat Roger Federer in front of the Spanish fans.

Nadal reached the Madrid Open final with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 win Saturday. It was the defending champion's 37th straight win on clay. The match got off to a somber start, with Nadal tearing up during an homage to the golf great, who died Saturday.

"It's a sad day for Spain, for all athletes," Nadal said.

Novak Djokovic beat Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Djokovic extended his perfect 2011 start to 31 matches, behind only John McEnroe's 42 straight in 1984. He is 33-0 stretching to last year's Davis Cup win.

In women's semifinals, Victoria Azarenkas beat Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-2, and Petra Kvitova ousted Li Na 6-3, 6-1.