World number two Rafael Nadal rallied for a three-set victory over James Blake to book his semi-final berth at the ATP and WTA Sony Ericsson Open. Nadal, seeded second behind world number one Roger Federer, defeated Blake 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 as he moved a step closer to his first title of 2008.

It was the Spaniard’s second victory over Blake in as many starts, following his quarter-final win over the American at Indian Wells. Prior to that, Blake had won the first three career meetings between the two.

Nadal earned the break he needed in the third game of the third set, and held on to close out the match in 1hr 55min.

Nadal said the key to his changing fortune against Blake was a more aggressive, albeit riskier, stance. “I think just before I was running a lot, two metres behind the line,” he said.

In the semi-final, Nadal will face Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych, who eliminated Russian Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-4 in the day’s other men’s quarter-final.

In women’s action, fourth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic reached the semi-finals when Russia’s Elena Dementieva retired while trailing in the second-set of their quarter-final clash. Jankovic led 6-1, 3-1 when Dementieva, battling a back injury for which she received treatment after the first set, decided she couldn’t continue because of pain in her lower back.

Jankovic booked a semi-final matchup with Vera Zvonareva, who beat Russian compatriot Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-4.