Rafael Nadal outlasted David Nalbandian 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the BNP Paribas Open Friday, setting up a semifinal against Roger Federer that will be a rematch of their Australian Open semifinal. Federer had an easier time in his quarterfinal, beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 in just more than an hour for his fourth victory over the Argentine this year. Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka defeated Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-3 to reach the final of her sixth consecutive tournament. It was her 22nd straight victory, giving Azarenka the best start to a season since Martina Hingis began 37-0 in 1997. The second set was littered with service breaks, with Azarenka breaking four times and Kerber twice. “It's a little bit difficult with the wind, especially from one side,” Azarenka said. “She was really playing, putting a lot of pressure, and it was difficult to control the ball a little bit. Overall, I played pretty good on the return.” Second-ranked Maria Sharapova advanced to the final when Ana Ivanovic retired with a left hip injury after losing the first set 6-4 and leading 1-0 in the second in their first meeting since the 2008 Australian Open final, won by Sharapova. “I am happy after a long match yesterday that I got a little shorter one,” Sharapova said. Azarenka beat Sharapova in this year's Aussie Open final. Their rematch Sunday will be the first final between the world's top two women since 2008. “I would love to get my revenge,” Sharapova said. Ivanovic left the court with a trainer trailing 5-4 in the first set. “After the treatment, it was just getting worse and worse rapidly,” she said. “We taped it and then I tried to continue, but at the end, I couldn't even return. I couldn't even stand there on my return.” Sharapova practiced her serves during the eight-minute delay on a cool, windy evening in the desert. Ivanovic returned and held to open the second set, but then quit. Nadal, ranked second in the world, handed No. 3 Federer one of his two losses since last year's US Open when he beat the Swiss star in the Australian Open semifinals in January. They will play Saturday, when rain and wind is forecast to move into the Coachella Valley, spoiling the sun and 80-degree temperatures that have prevailed during the two-week tournament. Federer improved to 37-2 with five titles since the US Open. His other loss came in Davis Cup against American John Isner, who advanced to the other semifinal against top-ranked Novak Djokovic. Despite all his success, Nadal said he routinely has doubts about whether he can win matches and that only arrogant people don't doubt themselves.
