Novak Djokovic handed walkover over Kei Nishikori at Madrid Open
Rafael Nadal beats David Goffin and will now meet former world No 1
Friday 12 May 2017 23:15, UK
Novak Djokovic was handed a place in the Madrid Open semi-final after Kei Nishikori withdrew from their last-eight meeting with a wrist injury.
The world No 2 was due to face his toughest test to date in Spain, having struggled past Nicolas Almagro before a before straightforward victory over Feliciano Lopez.
But ahead of their Friday quarter-final showdown, world no 8 Nishikori suffered a recurrence of the wrist injury that has troubled him in recent months and with the French Open on the horizon, the Japanese has opted against taking a risk.
"I will plan to play Rome, but we will see." said Nishikori.
"I cannot promise to play or pull out right now. [The] French is more important."
It means Djokovic is through to just his second semi-final of the year and first since he claimed his first and only title of 2017 in Dubai.
The Serb will face Rafael Nadal in Saturday's last-four encounter, after the Spaniard beat David Goffin 7-6 (7-3). to remain on course for his third straight title
"It was a beautiful game, we both played at the very highest level and there were great points for everyone to see," Nadal told Spanish Television.
"He [Goffin] demands the most of you, he's one of the best in the world, one of the candidates to win the most important trophies.
"I knew I was playing well in the first set but I just couldn't take my chances. Winning is very important but also the way I'm playing at the moment makes me very relaxed."
In the top half of the draw, Pablo Cuevas continued his fantastic season by reaching his first ever Masters-level semi-final with a superb three-set victory over Alexander Zverev.
Before this season the 31-year-old Uruguayan had never been beyond the third round of a 1000 Series event and having lost in the last eight in Monte Carlo and Indian Wells he finally went one better to battle back from a set down to sink Zverev.
Cuevas lost the first set to Zverev who has looked impressive in beating Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic after tournament victory in Munich last week but it was Cuevas who grew stronger as the match wore on wrapping up a 3-6 6-0 6-4 success in 90 minutes.
Exits for world No 1 Andy Murray and world No 3 Stan Wawrinka have opened the door in the top half and Cuevas will take on Dominic Thiem in the semi-final.
Thiem defeated Murray's conqueror Borna Coric 6-1 6-4 in Friday's final quarter-final.
