MADRID, Spain -- Defending champion Rafael Nadal gave his clay-court doldrums a boost by reaching the Madrid Open semifinals on Friday with a dominant performance against Thomas Berdych. Barry Bonds Jersey . In the womens tournament, two-time defending champion Serena Williams withdrew with a leg injury, while Maria Sharapova ousted Li Na in the quarterfinals. The top-ranked Nadal had lost his previous two quarterfinal matches on clay for his worst run on the surface in a decade. But buoyed on by a partisan crowd, Nadal overpowered Berdych 6-4, 6-2 to advance at the Magic Box. "I brought great energy and intensity to it and thats the best news, that its my best (on clay) yet," Nadal said. "The things that, historically, Ive done well on this surface I managed to do them again today." Nadal has been improving with every match in Madrid after losing at the quarterfinals stage in preceding tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. But he showed no sign of the nerves that had uncharacteristically crept into the game of the most successful clay-court player ever as he pushed Berdych to the corners and punished him with a powerful forehand that accounted for 16 of his winners. "My play is good when Im hitting my forehand well, especially on clay," said Nadal, who is vying for his third title in the Spanish capital. "In Monte Carlo I used my backhand more and not my forehand, and when I have to hit five or six backhands in a row it doesnt help my game." Berdych, who dropped to 3-18 against Nadal, couldnt keep up in the hot sun beating down on Manolo Santana centre court. Nadal faces countryman Roberto Bautista Agut after the 45th-ranked player beat Colombias Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4. David Ferrer followed Bautista Aguts victory with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis to become the third Spaniard in the semis. Kei Nishikori prevented an all-Spanish lineup in the final four by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4 in the late match. The win also ensures that he will become the first Japanese player to break into the top 10 when the new world rankings are released on Monday. Nishikori remained undefeated on clay this season in nine matches after winning the Barcelona Open title. The top-ranked Williams has had her left thigh heavily bandaged this week and said she injured it during a first-round victory over Belinda Bencic on Sunday. "It started to get better but, most importantly right now, I just need some time to rest and recover. Its beyond words. Its so frustrating," Williams said in a statement. "This is not the way I wanted this week to end." The withdrawal gave 2011 champion Petra Kvitova a walkover and a spot in the semifinals. The 32-year-old Williams said the injury would not keep her out of the French Open, with the defending champion tweeting she would play in Rome next week before the second Grand Slam of the season starts on May 25. Sharapova reached the semis after she rallied to beat Li 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Li was in control until she failed to convert two break points in the 11th game of the second set. Errors then began creeping into the Australian Open champions game as Sharapova evened the match. After an exchange of breaks in the third set, the ninth-ranked Russian broke again and then held serve to win on Lis 43rd unforced error. "It really could have gone her way today. You know, it was just a matter of a few points in the second set," said Sharapova, who came through despite seven doublefaults. "I was down, I didnt play a great first set, and I found a way to get myself in a position to be in the third." Sharapova faces third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals after the Polish player beat French qualifier Caroline Garcia 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Kvitova will face fourth-seeded Simona Halep after the Romanian ousted Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-2. Will Clark Giants Jersey . -- The Royals expect to place left-hander Bruce Chen on the disabled list with a swollen disc in his back that has already caused the club to juggle its starting rotation. Willie Mays Giants Jersey . Gretzky was asked if he believes Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban should be on Canadas blueline in February at the Sochi Olympics. "Im not going to get in the middle of that controversy because Stevie Yzerman obviously knows what hes doing, he won a gold medal in 2010," said Gretzky.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Riley Kieser had two goals and an assist as the Edmonton Oil Kings won their ninth in a row, toppling the host Kamloops Blazers 4-1 on Wednesday in Western Hockey League action. Henrik Samuelsson and Edgars Kulda also scored for the Oil Kings (38-13-1). Matt Bellerive supplied the scoring for the Blazers (11-38-5), who are on a seven-game skid. Bolton Pouliot turned away 34-of-37 shots for Kamloops. The Oil Kings went 1 for 5 on the power play, and also scored twice shorthanded, while the Blazers failed to find the back of the net on eight chances with the man advantage. --- TIGERS 3 WHEAT KINGS 2 BRANDON -- Trevor Cox scored twice, including the winner 19 seconds into the third period, as Medicine Hat slipped past the Wheat Kings. Cole Sanford had a goal and two assists for the Tigers (31-19-3) while Curtis Valk chipped in with two assists. Jayce Hawryluk and Richard Nejezchleb scored for Brandon (27-20-6). Medicine Hats Marek Langhamer made 21 saves for the win, including a Ryley Lindgren penalty shot at 17:02 of the second period. Jordan Papirny stopped 26 shots for the Wheat Kings. --- BLADES 6 HURRICANES 3 LETHBRIDGE, Alta.-- Troy Tremblay made 48 saves and Saskatoon scored four times in the third period en route to doubling up the Hurricanes. Mitch Lipon, Dylan Busenius, Ryan Graham and Brett Stovin scored in the third for the Blades (15-37-4), who halted a four-game skid, while Cory Millette and Austin Adamson had the others. Jamal Watson had a pair of goals for Lethbridge (11-39-5) and Tyler Bell scored once. Jonny Hogue turned away 32-of-37 shots for the Hurricanes. --- ROCKETS 4 REBELS 3 CRANBROOK, B.C. -- Jackson Whistle made 32 ssaves as Kelowna held off Red Deer and its attempt for a third-period comeback. Mel Ott Jersey. . Tyrell Goulbourne, Kris Schmidli, Marek Tvrdon and Austin Glover all scored in the first period for the Rockets (43-7-3) before giving up three goals in the final 20 minutes. Aspen Sterzer scored twice for the Rebels (27-23-4), who dropped their fourth game in a row, and Evan Polei had the other. Red Deers Taz Burman allowed two goals on Red Deers first three shots and was pulled at 1:34 of the opening period. Patrik Bartosak stopped 36-of-38 shots in relief. --- THUNDERBIRDS 4 CHIEFS 0 SPOKANE, Wash. -- Taran Kozun stopped 29 shots for his third shutout of the season as Seattle blanked the Chiefs. Justin Hickman scored three times for the Thunderbirds (34-16-5) and Alexander Delnov added the other. Spokanes (31-17-5) Jeremy McIntosh and Dominic Zwerger were each minus-2 while Mike Aviani failed to record a point for the eighth straight game, which is his longest scoring drought of the season. Garret Hughson turned away 29-of-33 shots for the Chiefs. --- HITMEN 7 ROYALS 6 (OT) VICTORIA -- Pavel Padakin scored twice, including the winner, and added an assist as Calgary came from behind to edge the Royals in overtime. Brady Brassart scored once and set up two more for the Hitmen (33-15-6), who trailed 6-3 early in the third period, while Adam Tambellini, Jaynen Rissling, Chase Lang and Mike Winther added the others. Ben Walker had a pair of goals for Victoria (35-16-4) and Steven Hodges, Logan Fisher, Austin Carroll and Axel Blomqvist each scored once. Calgarys Mack Shields made 34 saves for the win as Coleman Vollrath stopped 2f-35 shots for the Royals. ' ' '
f-35 shots for the Royals. ' ' '