Nadal claims last semi-final place in Shanghai

Nov 17, 2006, 15:58 GMT

Shanghai - Rafael Nadal booked the last semi-final place at the Masters Cup on Friday, his 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 Gold group win over Nikolay Davydenko setting up a clash with Roger Federer.

The Spanish world number 2, who has not played a final since losing to his top-ranked Swiss rival at Wimbledon five months ago, defeated Russia's Davydenko in the pair's first meeting.

'I'm at my best level, I've won two matches against some of the best players in the world,' said Nadal. 'The match with Federer will be nice.

'It's important for me to be in a semi-final, I won a difficult maytch against the world number 3.'

The slow-running contest against Davydenko lasted for a shade under three hours, with Nadal taking a re-taping of his left knee from the trainer early in the third set.

The Spaniard also saved his only break point on the match in the final game with a service winner before collecting victory on his first match point.

Nadal broke twice in the contest, striking 26 winners and 32 unforced errors to the 44 of Davydenko, ranked third in the world.

'He's a young guy who fights and runs well,' said the Russian. 'His lefty serve is also dangerous, with so much topspin. It was tough to return.

'I couldn[0x2018]t push him in the second set, that was the problem.'

Nadal said he suffered with a chronic bone spur below his left knee, but the taping and hot cream fixed the worry,

'I tried to play more aggressive in the third set,' said the world number 2. 'I worked hard to win this match.'

In the second semi-final on Saturday at the Qi Zhong stadium, James Blake, the first to qualify for the final four, will play Argentine David Nalbandian.

Blake and Spain's Tommy Robredo were playing a dead rubber later to wrap up group play.