WORLD No. 2 Rafael Nadal rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory Wednesday over James Blake to book his semifinal berth at the ATP and WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, the United States.

Nadal defeated his American rival for the first time in his career at the Pacific Life Open quarterfinals two weeks ago and replicated the feat Wednesday.

“Right now I am feeling like I am playing at my best level, so that’s important, to come to the clay season with more confidence,” Nadal told reporters.

“He started (out) playing so aggressive. I didn’t have many chances in the beginning. I couldn’t touch the ball. I couldn’t get rhythm in the beginning, nothing,” said Blake.

Blake made far too many mistakes during the one hour, 55 minute contest, producing 31 unforced errors compared with just 13 for second seed Nadal.

The American also offered Nadal 19 opportunities to break his serve, the triple French Open champion successfully doing so four times in total.

Nadal turned the match in his favor when he broke the ninth-seeded Blake with a sizzling backhand passing shot to go 5-3 up in the second set.

He greeted the break with his trademark fist pump and from then on Blake’s challenge faded.

Nadal will play 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the semifinals after the Czech’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Igor Andreev. “There is no time for celebrating,” said Berdych. “I just need to recover for the next match and be ready for Rafa.” (SD-Agencies)