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MUTUA MADRID OPEN

Nadal sets up 50th showdown with Djokovic in Madrid

Rafa Nadal will aim to keep his unbeaten start to the clay season going when he meets Novak Djokovic for a 50th time in the Madrid Masters semi-finals on Saturday.

Nadal breezes past Goffin in Madrid
PEPE ANDRESDIARIO AS

Rafa Nadal will be attempting to extend his unbeaten start to the clay season when he meets Novak Djokovic for a 50th time in the Madrid Masters semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.

King of Clay Nadal going from strength to strength

Nadal is now 13-0 on clay this year as he swept aside Belgian ninth seed David Goffin 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 much to the delight a boisterous home crowd under the roof on the Manolo Santana centre court. Djokovic meanwhile had an even easier day as he moved into the last four without hitting a ball on Friday as Kei Nishikori withdrew with a wrist injury. The Serb has a marginal 26-23 head-to-head record against Nadal. However, the two haven't met for nearly a year during which time Djokovic's form has dramatically dipped.

Nadal in to the semi-final in Madrid where he will face Djokovic
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Nadal in to the semi-final in Madrid where he will face DjokovicPEPE ANDRESDIARIO AS

“It's going to be a very tough match against one of the best players in the history of the sport”, Nadal told reporters after today’s play. “I've been playing at a high level for many weeks, but I know tomorrow is a day when either I'll have to play really well or I'm not going to have many chances”.

Nadal cruised past Goffin 6-3, 6-1 in their only previous meeting on his way to winning the Monte Carlo Masters last month before also lifting a 10th Barcelona Open. And only poor returning on his break point opportunities denied Nadal just as convincing a scoreline as the Spaniard took only two of his 14 chances.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion had break points in the fourth and sixth game of the first set, but had to settle for breaking Goffin's resolve in a tie-break. Nadal finally broke in the third game of the second set before having to stave off four break points on his own serve to consolidate his lead at 3-1. The level of play from both players rose in a remarkable game with Goffin serving at 2-4 down as he kept Nadal at bay despite facing four break points, including one incredible cross-court backhand as he ran back to the baseline after being lobbed.

Nadal wasn't to be denied, though, as he broke once more and served out to seal victory after exactly two hours on court.

King of Clay, Rafa Nadal at the Caja Mágica this afternoon.
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King of Clay, Rafa Nadal at the Caja Mágica this afternoon.JuanJo MartínEFE

Cuevas progresses to semi-final

On the other side of the draw Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas advanced to his first ever Masters series semi-final by outlasting German wonder kid Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. The Uruguayan will face Dominic Thiem or Andy Murray's conqueror Borna Coric in the semi-finals.

Simona Halep, safely through to the the ATP Madrid Open final.
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Simona Halep, safely through to the the ATP Madrid Open final.OSCAR DEL POZOAFP

Halep to face Mladenovic or Kuznetsova in the final

In the Women's competition, defending champion Simona Halep strolled back into the final for the third time in four years with a 6-2, 6-3 success over Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova. Halep also thrashed the world number 22 two weeks ago in Stuttgart and there was never any danger of an upset as the Romanian reeled off five straight games to close out the opening set.

Sevastova hinted at a fightback early in the second as she got out to a 3-0 lead. But Halep, who also lost in the semi-finals of the women's doubles with compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu on Friday, showed no signs of lacking in energy as she bounced back in emphatic fashion to win the last six games for the loss of just 14 points. Halep will face in-form French player Kristina Mladenovic or Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday's final.

Enjoying the action on centre court this afternoon: Gustavo Ayon, Jan Oblak, Saúl, Lucas Vázquez, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic.
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Enjoying the action on centre court this afternoon: Gustavo Ayon, Jan Oblak, Saúl, Lucas Vázquez, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic.PEPE ANDRESDIARIO AS

Leader! Following his semifinal run at the #MMOPEN, @RafaelNadal rises to 1⃣ in the 2017 ATP Race. pic.twitter.com/8QlE5Kn1Ev — Mutua Madrid Open (@MutuaMadridOpen) 12 May 2017