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Nadal makes Paris Masters semifinals

Paris: Rafael Nadal beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Paris Masters semifinals and take a step closer to a rematch against David Nalbandian.

The Spaniard lost to Nalbandian two weeks ago in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals in their only meeting and they could meet again in Sunday’s final. “The last two matches were very good,” Nadal said. “Especially today, I played very good.”

Nadal next plays Marcos Baghdatis, who beat Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-4.

“Marcos is a very, very good player, so he will have his strategy. If he’s playing well, he can beat any player,” Nadal said.

Baghdatis, however, is not looking forward to playing Nadal, against whom he has only taken one set in four defeats.

“Well, honestly I’m just unable to play against Nadal. I like playing against Roger (Federer), but I just can’t play against Nadal. I’m not able to return. He’s slicing too much,” Baghdatis said.

Nalbandian will face the 10th-seeded Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman beat 15th-seeded Andy Murray of Britain 6-3, 0-6, 6-4. Gasquet has lost all four career meetings against Nalbandian.

Gasquet took a step closer to reaching the season-ending Masters Cup, with only one of the eight places left after Fernando Gonzalez of Chile secured his place for the November 11-18 event in Shanghai, China.

Unexpected

“It’s incredible. I didn’t even hope for it (Shanghai). In Madrid I didn’t play well. In Lyon, I didn’t play well either. It is unexpected, completely unexpected. Even myself, I can’t believe it today,” Gasquet said.

Nadal took only 1 hour and 33 minutes to dismiss Youzhny while Nalbandian needed nearly three hours to subdue fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2.

He saved two match points before Nadal won with a forehand pass up the line.

Baghdatis’s victory preserved his outside chance to qualify for Shanghai and ended Robredo’s hopes. Nalbandian had already been eliminated from Masters Cup contention, but remained on course for a second straight Masters title with his victory over Ferrer.

The Argentine, who won the Madrid Masters last month and beat Federer on Thursday for the second time in less than two weeks, won the first set tiebreaker after Ferrer had saved two set points but then hit a forehand long.

Ferrer levelled the match with a smash at the net after a weak return from Nalbandian.

The turning point came in the second game of the deciding set. Nalbandian broke Ferrer’s opening service game, then saved two break points to lead 2-0.

That prompted Ferrer to throw his racket to the ground in frustration and Nalbandian speedily closed out the match.

Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open finalist, has yet to drop a set this week.

Top-ranked Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and Ferrer all have qualified for Shanghai.

Zvonareva moves up

In the WTA Bell Challenge, three-time Grand Slam winner Lindsay Davenport continued to impress in her comeback by beating France’s Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals at Quebec City on Friday.

The 31-year-old unseeded American advanced to the semifinals where she will face Russian Vera Zvonareva, who rolled over countrywoman Olga Poutchkova 6-2, 6-1. Third seed Julia Vakulenko stopped Olga Govortzova to set up the other semifinal against unheralded American Julie Ditty.

The results:

Paris Masters: Quarterfinals: Richard Gasquet bt Andy Murray 6-3, 0-6, 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-2; David Nalbandian bt David Ferrer 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2.

WTA Bell Challenge: Quarterfinals: Julia Vakulenko bt Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-2; Vera Zvonareva bt Olga Poutchkova 6-2, 6-1; Julie Ditty bt Vania King 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Lindsay Davenport bt Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 6-0. — Agencies

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