Top seed Rafael Nadal worked double time to beat Dutchman Peter Wessels 7-6, 6-2 on Friday, setting up a China Open semi-final with fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Sixth seed Ferrero won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after a battle of attrition with number three David Nalbandian in their quarter-final.
French Open champion Nadal had already taken more than 2-1/2 hours to beat American Justin Gimelstob 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in his rain-delayed second round match earlier on Friday.
But the world number two looked more comfortable on the Beijing hardcourts in his quarter-final, quickly putting Wessels out of his misery after taking the first set tiebreak 7-3.
"I played for four hours today so I'm a bit tired but I'm confident I can win tomorrow," said Nadal, who has won all three previous meetings with Ferrero, all on clay.
"I played really badly this morning but I'm happy with the improvement I made this evening. Ferrero is a great player but I don't fear him."
The 19-year-old Nadal, who improved his record for 2005 to 70-10, is bidding to win his 10th
CORIA'S OVERTIME
Argentina's Guillermo Coria also put in overtime as the second seed knocked out last year's runner-up Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 to advance in the bottom half of the draw.
Coria will take on Sweden's Thomas Johansson in Saturday's semi-finals after the fourth seed's 7-6, 6-3 dismissal of Spain's Carlos Moya.
World number eight Coria had trounced Japan's Toshihide Matsui 6-1, 6-0 in Friday's first match after rain showers wiped out the entire day's play on Thursday.
Ferrero prevailed after a dour baseline struggle, breaking Argentine Nalbandian to go ahead 5-3 in the third set and closing out with a big serve on his first match point.
"I lost both times I played Nalbandian before, but they were close matches," said Ferrero, seeking to return to the top of the game after an injury-ravaged 2004. "Today I was very solid.
"I missed so much of last season. It's like I'm starting my career again. I'm confident I can get back into the top 10 soon."