Shanghai Masters Preview: Nadal and Djokovic Look to Seal Finals Berth

It's Rafael Nadal vs Juan Martin Del Potro and Novak Djokovic taking on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the two semifinals of the Shanghai Masters.

Nadal saw off the challenge of Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (10), 6-1 to set up a meeting with Del Potro, who beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets.

The world number one has already beaten Del Potro once in the hard courts this season in Indian Wells, but Nadal expects it to be a different match this time around.

"Conditions here are completely different than Indian Wells," he said. "The ball flies and high bounces, very high bounces on the topspin. The conditions in Indian Wells, because of the results, are the more positive conditions for me to play.  Court is not slow, is not quick, but at the same time the ball goes quick. Big bounces, that help me.

"Here the bounces are much lower. Court is faster. I cannot expect a similar match than Indian Wells. Even the match was very hard there. The match will be less rallies, I think. The only way to play against him and have success is play my best tennis, play aggressive on this surface.

"If I am not able to play inside the court, if I go behind the baseline, I'm not going to have chances. He has probably better serve than me.

"He can have better shots than me, sometimes flat shots than me. I think I am a little bit quicker than him.  So I need to play inside, to put pressure on him, and try to be very solid with my serve because I know the opportunities on the return will not be very often, so we'll see."

The other semifinal will see Djokovic taking on Tsonga, after the Frenchman eased through against Florian Mayer on Friday.

Djokovic had a real battle on his hands in his quarterfinal, eventually prevailing over Roger Federer's conqueror - Gael Monfils - 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

"We haven't played for a while," Djokovic said of the semifinal matchup. "It's going to be a tough one. I mean, he has had a few months' break because of his injury. He came back. He played finals at I think one tournament in France. 

"Now he's playing really well in this tournament. He hasn't dropped a set. He's been winning comfortably his matches.

"It's always a challenge when you play such a big and efficient server. The match today (Friday) could maybe help me in that way, so I can know what's kind of expected of me because they both have very explosive movements, big serves, getting lower balls back, very athletic.

"Hopefully I can raise the level of my game when it's needed."

Where to watch

The first semifinal - Djokovic vs Tsonga -- is scheduled for a 2.00 p.m. (IST) start, while the second match is set to begin after the first match. Live telecast is scheduled on Star Sports and Ten Sports.