MADRID, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Rafael Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Mutua Madrid Open after a straight-set win over Belgian's number 9 seed David Goffin in Friday's quarter-final.
The number 4 seed got off to a slow start and needed a tie-break to claim the first set 7-6 (7), but had far fewer problems in the second set which he won by 6-2.
Djokovic will be Nadal's rival on Saturday and had a much easier Friday after number six seed Kei Nishikori withdrew due to a wrist injury.
Pablo Cuevas, ranked 26th in the world, also booked a semi-final berth as he came back from a set down to defeat German Alexander Zverev, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.
He will face the winner of the late night match between number 8 seed Dominic Thiem and Borna Coric, who knocked number one seed, Andy Murray out earlier in the week.
Meanwhile the women's singles final will be between Simona Halep, who continued her straightforward progress with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Latvian, Anastasija Sevastova, and 14 seed Kristina Mladenovic, who beat number 8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 7-6 (7).