Fernando defeated Denis Istomin 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the finals of the SAP Open, where he’ll face either #1 seed Andy Roddick or #7 seed Sam Querrey. It’s his first final of the year and his tenth career final.

Some more information about Fernando’s injury as well. He’s been suffering from a sciatic nerve flare-up since his match in Kooyong against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and as a result is dealing with some hamstring discomfort in his right leg.

“It’s not like big pain, but it’s not nice, also, the feeling, no? I’m doing all I can,” he said. “I cannot do anything else. I just hope that it’s going to be gone.”

Due to his injury, Fernando may not be able to play in Spain’s first round Davis Cup match next month against Switzerland, but even without him and Rafael Nadal, who will likely sit the tie out, Spain still has a whole host of players to carry the Spanish banner. “Sometimes you are unable to play, and it’s important to have many good players. When someone is unable to play, the other one can replace them and play at the same level.”

(via inside tennis)