Rafael Nadal showed no signs of the fever that has been afflicting him this week as he strolled into the Rome Masters semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Marin Cilic here on Friday
Earlier, Andy Murray became the first British man to reach the Rome semifinals in the Open era after a bizarre 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory against Florian Mayer.
Having been totally off colour on Wednesday in a tortured three-set victory over Italian qualifier Paolo Lorenzi, Nadal proved he was back to his best against Cilic.
“I improved today more than a little bit, I played better. First of all, to win a tournament you have to play well every day,” said Nadal.
Nadal's semifinal opponent Murray became the first British man since George Hughes in 1932 to get this far in Rome.
The world No1. was completely out of sorts in the first set but then went on to win 11 of the last 12 games as Mayer crumbled alarmingly.
In the women's event, world No1. Caroline Wozniacki reached the semifinals after edging past twice former winner here Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
Li Na of China entered the semifinals after a quick 6-3, 6-1 victory over Hungarian Greta Arn.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Richard Gasquet produced one of the best matches of his career to hit back from a set down to defeat World No. 3 Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4).
It was the French 16th seed's first victory over Federer since his breakthrough result in 2005 in Monte Carlo, when he beat the great Swiss in the quarterfinals as an 18-year-old.
The record 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer said he should have won.
“I had a lot of good chances at a set, 4-3 and serving and then at 4-4 and 15-40 (on Gasquet's serve),” said the 29-year-old. That's how it goes sometimes. I thought I was playing well and then in the third I wasn't playing at all, it's a disappointing match for me,” said Federer.
The results: Men: Quarterfinals: Andy Murray bt Florian Mayer 1-6, 6-1, 6-1; Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-1, 6-3.
Third round: Tomas Berdych bt Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2; Robin Soderling bt Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Novak Djokovic bt Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-1; Richard Gasquet bt Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4); Andy Murray bt Potito Starace 6-2, 6-3.
Women: Quarterfinals: Caroline Wozniacki bt Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; Li Na bt Greta Arn 6-3, 6-1. Third round: Victoria Azarenka bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Caroline Wozniacki bt Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 7-6(4); Jelena Jankovic bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Francesca Schiavone bt Daniela Hantuchova 3-6, 6-2, 7-5; Maria Sharapova bt Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-2. - Agencies
