Rafael Nadal was forced to battle past Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov on Friday in three tough sets to reach the Shanghai Masters semifinals and a showdown with Marin Cilic.
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The World No. 1 just about beat his friend Dimitrov, the sixth seed, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 to stay on course for a possible glamour final with old rival Roger Federer.
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Earlier in the day, World No. 5 Cilic became the first man to reach the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters when he brushed aside Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
The Croatian, bidding to reach the season-ending ATP Finals in London, grabbed the critical break in the sixth game of the first set on his way to a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 victory over the unseeded Spaniard.
Federer beat Richard Gasquet in straight sets to enter semifinals.
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