Nadal To Clash With Federer In Madrid Open Semis

Julia Goerges Celebrates Winning Point
Rafa Nadal cleared the latest hurdle on his quest for a third clay court title in under a month when he overpowered Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-2,6-2 on Friday to set up a Madrid Open semi-final against Roger Federer.
The heavyweight pair were joined in the last four by unseeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, who knocked out Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6,6-3
Bellucci will play in-form Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday’s final. The Serbian second seed silenced the home fans when he ended the hopes of David Ferrer 6-4,4-6,6-3.
Former No 1 federer went through to the last four when he saw off fifth seed Robin Soderling 7-6,6-4.

Meanwhile, Julia Georges continued her impressive run on clay by brushing aside Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4,6-2 on Friday to set up a women’s semi-final against fourth seed Vicotria Azarenka.
Azarenka dropped her first set of the week against unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova before going through 6-3,3-6,6-2.
Georges and Azarenka were joined in the last four by Li Na who beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4,3-6,6-4.
Czech Petra Kvitova completed the semi-final lineup when she came from a set down to beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.