Nadal beats Nishikori to reach semis at Indian Wells

Published Mar. 18, 2016 6:12 p.m. ET

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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) Rafael Nadal defeated Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in pursuit of a fourth title in the California desert.

Nadal next plays either defending champion Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who met in a quarterfinal later Friday.

Nadal trailed 3-1 before he won five of the next six games to take the opening set in 45 minutes. Nadal got an early break in the second to build a 4-2 lead. His forehand error allowed Nishikori to break back and trail 4-3. But Nadal quickly recovered in the next game to break the sixth-ranked Japanese player and won the match on his serve with a forehand down the line.

In women's semifinals later, Serena Williams will play Agnieszka Radwanska and Victoria Azarenka will face Karolina Pliskova.

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