Rafael Nadal has defeated Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to book his place in the Italian Open final.

The Spaniard was able to find the first break of serve in the opening game of the contest, though Dimitrov held on with the set remaining tight until the seventh game when Nadal broke once more.

After eventually taking the opening set 6-2, the top seed once more broke his opponent's serve in the opening game of the second set, before racing into a 5-1 lead.

Nadal missed one match point in the seventh game with Dimitrov pulling one back, but the Spaniard eased through with a 6-2 triumph in the second set to secure his path into the final, where he will now face Novak Djokovic.