Nadal powers into semis

Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal ground out a 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 win over France's world number eight Gilles Simon to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the second year running on Wednesday.

Nadal broke Simon three times in the first set and survived a set point in the second to go into the professional-era Open's first all-Spanish semi-final with 14th seed Fernando Verdasco.

The world number one has now reached the semi-finals without dropping a set twice in a row. Last year he was beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was knocked out by Verdasco earlier in the day.

"For us it's an incredible feat to have two Spanish players in the semi-final. One is going to be in the final so we have to be very happy with that," Nadal said.

"Verdasco is playing very well since he won the Davis Cup, he was in the final in Brisbane and he beat (Andy) Murray so I know it's going to be a very tough match."

Nadal, who has been French Open champion since 2005 and added the Wimbledon title last year, has now reached three consecutive hard-court Grand Slam semi-finals although he is yet to make a final. The Spaniard remains on course for a title match with arch-rival Roger Federer, the second seed who is also in superb touch as he seeks a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title. Federer will play Andy Roddick in the semi-finals.

Nadal, 22, broke in the very first game and again at 3-1 before Simon took a break of serve of his own. But he manoeuvred the Frenchman expertly around the court for the third break and served the set out with an ace. Simon double-faulted to go a break down early in the second set but hung in and broke back thanks to a 30-shot rally ended with a stunning winner. MELBOURNE. AFP