Rafael Nadal advanced to the semifinals of the Brazil Open here late on Friday, with a difficult three-set win over Argentine Carlos Berlocq.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, ranked number five in the world, won his singles quarterfinal match 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours 24 minutes against the 30-year old Argentine, ranked 78th in the world.
Nadal will face off in Saturday’s semifinal against another Argentine, Martin Alund, who earlier Friday defeated Filippo Volandri of Italy 7-5, 7-6.
In another quarter-final earlier Friday, Argentine David Nalbandian beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, the winner of the Brazil Open last year.
Nalbandian will contest Saturday’s other semifinal against Italian Simone Bolelli who ousted Argentine Juan Monaco.
Berlocq dominated the first set, breaking Nadal’s serve twice before prevailing 6-3, and serving several aces during the match.
But the Spaniard, who enjoyed the raucous support of the crowd at Sao Paulo’s Ibirapuera gymnasium, later said he never thought of losing the contest.
