INDIAN WELLS: Two-time Indian Wells winner Rafael Nadal, who is chasing his first title of 2012, rallied to beat David Nalbandian 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals Friday.
“It was very difficult,” Nadal said. “I was a little bit more nervous than usual. It is a very important victory because I will now be in the semi-finals here. I am excited and happy.”
The win over Argentina’s Nalbandian sets up a semifinal clash against world number three Roger Fededer, who won his quarterfinal match against another Argentinian, Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3, 6-2.
Federer and Nadal have met 27 times previously with Nadal having won 18.
“We played 27 times. It will be the first time here at Indian Wells,” Nadal said.
Nadal, who hit three aces, clinched the victory in the 10th game of the final set Friday when Nalbandian’s running backhand went wide.
Nalbandian’s momentum carried him forward and he almost crashed into his chair but managed to kick it over instead. He then congratulated Nadal on the win.
Nadal had reached the quarters without dropping a set in the hardcourt tournament but he got off to rocky start against Nalbandian.
Nalbandian broke Nadal for the first time in the final game of the first set to win the set in 49 minutes. He hit a nice forehand drop shot that landed just over the net to make it 30-40. Nalbandian then closed the door with a forehand winner down the line to take the set 6-4.
In both the second and eighth games of the second set, Nadal had to scramble to hold serve. In the eighth, Nadal eventually held by finishing it off with a 124 mph ace.
Nalbandian was serving in the 11th game of the second set when he was broken for the first time in the match. He handed the game to Nadal with a double fault on the final point, setting the stage for Nadal to serve for the set.
Nadal then started the third set with another break of Nalbandian’s serve as he began to take control of the match.
Earlier, World No. 3 Roger Federer rolled to an easy 6-3, 6-2 win over Juan Martin del Potro to reach the semifinals.
The 30-year-old Swiss continued his dominance of Argentina’s del Potro, beating him for the fifth consecutive time – all in straight sets.
“It is a great win against an Argentine,” Federer said. ” I thought I played really well. This is great.”
Second-seeded Maria Sharapova will face Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in Sunday’s final after 2008 winner Ana Ivanovic of Serbia retired hurt from the second semifinal because of an injured left hip while trailing the Russian 6-4, 0-1.
The title showdown at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will be a repeat of the Australian Open final in January when Azarenka won her first Grand Slam title with a crushing 6-3, 6-0 victory over Sharapova.
“I can’t play, I can’t push,” a tearful Ivanovic told the chair umpire before withdrawing from her match in the last four. Ivanovic had taken a medical time-out after the ninth game of the first set before returning to the court for two more games, and exiting with Sharapova 30-0 up on her serve. (Agencies)