SHANGHAI, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- No. 2-seeded Rafael Nadal was a three-set winner Friday, earning a semifinals shot at No. 1 Roger Federer in the $4.45 million Master's Cup in Shanghai.
Nadal, from Spain, double-faulted on set point to drop the first set 5-7 but came back to win the second two sets 6-4, 6-4 and defeat Russian Nikolay Davydenko in round-robin play.
Nadal needed the victory to advance to the semifinals of the eight-player tournament. Federer secured his semifinal slot Thursday, as did Argentinean
David Nalbandian, the seventh-seed. The fourth semifinalist is American James Blake, the last player to qualify for the Shanghai event.
Blake had wrapped up a spot in the semifinals by winning his first two round-robin matches so Friday's 2-6, 6-3, 5-7 loss to Spain's Tommy Robredo served as little more than a good workout.
The key match Saturday will be Federer-Nadal, which pairs this year's Wimbledon and French Open finalists. Federer, from Switzerland, is 90-5 on the year, a record that includes a 24-match winning streak and titles in his last four events.
Saturday's winners head to Sunday's title match where they will play for $1 million.
