Nadal reaches semis of Japan Open

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal reached the Japan Open semifinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia on Friday.

The Spaniard was pushed early by the 53rd-ranked Giraldo, who held his serve before narrowly losing the tiebreak at Ariake Colosseum.

With the tiebreak level at 6-6, Giraldo netted a forehand and Nadal went on to convert his first set point.

The No. 2 ranked Nadal then won the first of two break points to get out 2-0 in the second set on his way to taking the match in 2 hours, 2 minutes.

Nadal will play Mardy Fish next after the fourth-seeded American player beat Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 earlier.