Nadal, Djokovic land in China Open semis

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Fernando Verdasco, Nikolay Davydenko and Marin Cilic won their matches to advance to quarterfinals of the China Open. World number two Rafael Nadal fended off a tough challenge from hard-hitting American James Blake with a 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 win. In the quarterfinals, Nadal -- who won the China Open in 2005 -- will face Russia's Marat Safin, a crowd favorite and 2004 champion here, who upset Chilean seventh seed Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Serbian Novak Djokovic thrashed his fellow-Serb Viktor Troicki in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. Spaniard Fernando Verdasco beat his fellow countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-4. On the other hand, Russian Nikolay Davydenko overcame German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Croatian Marin Cilic beat French Julien Benneteau to advance to the next round. Serena Williams was knocked out of the China Open on Thursday, losing to Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the third round only days before officially recovering her No. 1 ranking.