BEIJING (AP) Rafael Nadal stayed on course to wrest the top ranking from Novak Djokovic by rallying for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Fabio Fognini of Italy in the China Open quarterfinals on Friday.
Nadal, who needs to reach the final to have a chance of regaining No. 1 for the first time in two years, was down a set and a break but changed the tempo with a timely service break.
Defending champion Djokovic progressed with an impressive 6-1, 6-2 win over American Sam Querry in just 53 minutes.
Also, top-ranked Serena Williams brushed aside former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 6-4 to raise her record to 6-1 against the Dane and set up a next-round clash with No. 4-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska.
Nadal seemed to struggle at times with a niggling left knee injury but wore down Fognini after that hard-fought service break in the seventh game of the second set.