Novak Djokovic pushed to the limit as he extends winning streak to 30

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Updated: 21:08 EST, 6 May 2011

Novak Djokovic came through one of the toughest tests of his unbeaten season to date to extend his extraordinary winning streak to 30 matches and book his place in the Mutua Madrid Open semi-finals.

Djokovic needed two hours and 27 minutes to see off home favourite David Ferrer, a finalist in consecutive recent events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, and set up a last-four clash with Brazil's Thomasz Bellucci.

The Serbian's win was all the more impressive for the way he bounced back from the disappointment of losing his serve to drop the second set, before eventually marching home 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Stretching the point: Serbian Novak Djokovic was made to work harder than ever for his quarter-final win

Djokovic's crucial break in the deciding set came in the fifth game, nudging him into a lead he never looked like squandering. He broke the fading Ferrer again to close out the match in style.

The unseeded Bellucci, however, shares Djokovic's confidence after the conqueror of Andy Murray continued his giant-killing run with a 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych.

Prior to Djokovic's late win, Bellucci said: 'I think I can beat any player. Djokovic and Ferrer are very good players and they are in a very good moment for themselves. But they are not invincible.'

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will go head to head in the second semi-final after both men came through their respective last-eight clashes without dropping a set.

Home favourite: Rafael Nadal will play Roger Federer in the other semi-final

Nadal, the world No 1 and reigning champion, showed no rust after his previous round walkover against the injured Juan Martin Del Potro as he dismissed Michael Llodra 6-2 6-2.

Nadal lost only eight points on his own serve in the 75-minute rout and admitted: 'It was quite good, especially here at the altitude. It's a bit more difficult on serve but I felt quite good on court and served well.'

Next up is Federer, Nadal's opponent in each of the past two finals, after the Swiss world number three got the better of a tough clash with double French Open runner-up Robin Soderling 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.

After nudging through the first set tie-break Federer faced break points in the sixth game of the second set but survived and grabbed the crucial break in the penultimate game of the match before serving out to win.