Nadal leads all-star semifinals at Artois

LONDON, June 13 (UPI) -- World No. 2 Rafael Nadal survived a three-tiebreaker marathon Friday in quarterfinal play at the $1.12 million Artois Championships tennis tournament in London.

The quarterfinal results Friday set up an all-star pair of semifinals Saturday that will feature four of the top eight men's players in the world. Nadal is paired against No. 6-ranked Andy Roddick and the other semi has fourth-rated Novak Djokovic playing No. 8 David Nalbandian.

Nadal had the toughest time reaching the semifinals, needing 2 hours, 24 minutes to finish off a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) match against Ivo Karlovic. Nadal never had a break point Friday against Karlovic, who fired 35 aces at Nadal.

Roddick advanced to the semifinals without playing as sixth-seeded Andy Murray withdrew because of a thumb injury.

Djokovic was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over 11th-seeded Lleyton Hewitt in his match Friday while Nalbandian got by fifth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).