BLAKE LOSES IT

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal finally solved the James Blake riddle, defeating the American for the first time in four career meetings on Thursday in Indian Wells to set up a semifinal clash with World No. 2 Novak Djokovic. Nadal defeated Djokovic last year in the youngest final in Indian Wells tournament history.

Nadal took the set lead when Blake made a risky decision in the first set. With the Spaniard holding a break point at 5-all, Blake stopped play in the middle of the point to challenge what he believed was a long return from the Spaniard. The video replay showed the ball had clipped the baseline – giving Nadal the break. Blake then saw his triple break point come to naught in the following game as Nadal reeled off five straight points.

Blake regrouped to take a 3-0 lead in the second set – enough to push the match to a third set as both players stayed on serve – and earned the first break point in the opening game of the third set, but failed to take advantage. Nadal, in contrast, converted on his second break point chance in the ninth game and then served out the win with an ace on match point, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.