Nikolay Davydenko continued his return to top form on Friday, when the third-seeded Russian beat Radek Stepanek for the first time since October 2004 at Moscow. Davydenko snapped a three-match losing streak against the ninth-seeded Czech with a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-2 win in two hours and 19 minutes for a place in the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell semi-finals.

Davydenko progressed to his first ATP World Tour semi-finals since November 2008, when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai – now re-named the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Stepanek hit seven aces and saved 11 of 16 break points in the pair’s first career meeting since August 2007 at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada in Montreal, but it was Davydenko who was more consistent winning 67 per cent of service points and winning four of five break point opportunities.

“I’m not thinking about tomorrow yet,” explained Davydenko. “I haven’t played that many matches this year yet, so I want to enjoy this moment. I’m starting to find my game and I know I can play better.”

The 27-year-old Davydenko returned to competitive tennis last week at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo, where he reached the quarter-finals (l. to Murray), after a two-month injury lay-off due to a left heel injury. He improved to 7-2 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season and 11-4 lifetime at the clay-court tournament. The World No. 8 also reached the Barcelona semi-finals in 2005 (l. to Ferrero).

Stepanek, 30, is off to his best career-start to a season (22-8 record), winning the first of two ATP World Tour titles in the year’s first tournament in Brisbane (d. Verdasco). He then captured San Jose (d. Fish) in February and also advanced to the Memphis final (l. to Roddick).

Davydenko takes a 2-3 record into Saturday’s semi-final against Spaniard Rafael Nadal, but the four-time defending champion and ATP World Tour No. 1 has won both clay-court meetings. Nadal advanced to the last four when No. 7 seed David Nalbandian of Argentina withdrew due to a right hip injury on Thursday.

“It’s a secret,” smiled Davydenko, when asked about the tactics he might use against Nadal. “I’m not going to tell the press, because tomorrow you’ll print it and then Rafa will read it and know all the secrets. Really, I haven’t thought much about it yet, for the rest of today I just want to relax and enjoy life.”

Fourth seed David Ferrer, the 2008 runner-up (l. to Nadal), won an all-Spanish battle against 2004 winner and sixth seed Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes. Ferrer, who also won in straight sets at the same stage last year, improved to 13-6 lifetime in Barcelona and 22-8 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season. Robredo won just 18 of 61 points on return of serve.

The 27-year-old Ferrer advanced to his fourth semi-final (or better) this year. He has also reached the semi-finals at Auckland (l. to Querrey) and Johannesburg (l. to Chardy), with a runner-up finish in Dubai (l. to Djokovic).

No. 5 seed and wild card entry Fernando Gonzalez remained unbeaten on clay (7-0) this season as he defeated No. 2 seed Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in two hours and 17 minutes.

The 28-year-old Chilean accounted for the only break in the third set by taking a 4-3 lead and holding on for his 13th victory of the season (13-3). Gonzalez will try to reach his second ATP World Tour final of the year after winning the Vina del Mar title in February.
          
Gonzalez, who is the first Chilean to reach the semi-finals in Barcelona since Marcelo Rios was runner-up in 1996, converted four of 10 break points and saved four of seven on his serve.

This is the seventh straight year at least two Spaniards have advanced to the semi-finals in Barcelona.

This is also the first time since 1977 that four of the top five seeds have advanced to the semi-finals in Barcelona. That year, the semi-finals consisted of the top four seeds -- Bjorn Borg, Manuel Orantes, Eddie Dibbs and Wojtek Fibak.

From ATP World Tour