MIAMI, March 31 (UPI) -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer set up another meeting in their great rivalry Thursday with quarterfinal victories at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Nadal fought off Tomas Berdych by surviving three break points in the third set for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory. Earlier in the day, Federer won the first three games of the opening set against Gilles Simon before Simon retired with a stiff neck.
Simon had defeated Federer in two of their three career meetings.
The top-seeded Nadal and the third-seeded Federer will face each other in the semifinals, the first time they have met this year. Nadal holds a 14-8 advantage in the rivalry, although Federer won their last meeting in the 2010 ATP World Tour championship match.
Nadal and Federer, however, have been overshadowed this year by Novak Djokovic, who has won all 22 matches he has played in 2011.
Djokovic will compete in the other semifinal against Mardy Fish, who when the world rankings come out next week will be listed as the top American player.
Djokovic is seeking his fourth title in four events this year. He won this tournament in 2007.
