Rome Masters

Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal saw off the challenge of the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Rome Masters semi-finals on Friday.

Nadal, who had dropped only eight games in his previous three matches, seemed unconcerned by going a set down and quickly regrouped to race through the second in just over half an hour.

"It was a complicated match. I didn't serve well at the end of the first set, but I'm pleased with the way I held myself together," Nadal said.

Nadal will play fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the semi-final.

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