Defending champion Rafael Nadal, trying to reignite his injury-disrupted season, will face a rejuvenated Ivan Ljubicic in the semifinals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000.
Nadal looked sharp in overcoming Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday, while Ljubicic gave himself an early birthday present with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Juan Monaco.
In a tight match, Berdych gave Nadal the only opening he needed, double-faulting to fall behind 5-4 in the tiebreaker. Nadal gave himself a match point with a forehand winner, and when Berdych hit a backhand into the net the Spaniard leapt in celebration."I played aggressive when I had the chance," Nadal said of the tiebreaker, adding that there was little he could do as Berdych built a 3-1 as Nadal was playing into the wind.
The Spaniard had managed to level the tiebreaker at 3-3 when they changed ends.
"Playing with the wind in that moment is almost decisive, and I played really well," Nadal said. I had one, two forehand winners down the line. That was the key of the match."
Nadal, 23, is playing his first tournament since retiring with a knee injury while trailing Andy Murray in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
Now the number three is the highest seed left in the draw after the early exits of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
"Very good news for me to be in semi-finals," said Nadal. "I am really happy how I am playing. Coming back from an injury, it's never easy the first tournament."
In Ljubicic, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Friday, Nadal will face a player he has beaten in five of six prior encounters.
The Croatian, a former world number three who is now ranked 26th, showed no sign of a letdown as he rallied to beat Monaco a day after toppling world number two Djokovic.