Federer, Nadal meet in semifinal

Associated Press

KEY BISCAYNE, FLA.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have played 22 times on hard courts, grass and clay. For the first time in six years, the best rivalry in tennis is back on U.S. soil.

Rafa and Roger will meet tonight in the semifinals at the Sony Ericsson Open. Their most recent matchup in North America took place on the same court in 2005, when Federer beat Nadal for the Key Biscayne title.

“We really get up for these kind of matches against each other because we know the world is watching,” Federer said. “We always have these incredible points and incredible matches.”

The top-ranked Nadal advanced to the semifinal showdown by beating No. 7-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday. Federer won without breaking a sweat when Gilles Simon retired with a stiff neck after losing the first three games.

Maria Sharapova became the first women’s finalist, shaking off a slow start by winning 11 consecutive games to beat Andrea Petkovic, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. Sharapova seeks her first title since May 2010, and her first at Key Biscayne.

“It would mean a lot,” she said. “It’s the biggest tournament I think after the Grand Slams. I look forward to going out there and getting it done.”

Her opponent Saturday will be the winner of the late match Thursday night between Victoria Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva.