Doha, Qatar (SportsNetwork.com) - World No. 1 superstar Rafael Nadal was a quarterfinal winner Thursday at the $1 million Qatar Open.
The reigning U.S. and French Open titlist handled seventh-seeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 6-4 on the hardcourts at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The 2010 Doha runner-up Nadal's semifinal opponent on Friday will be German Peter Gojowczyk, who outlasted fellow countryman qualifier Dustin Brown 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) on Day 4 of this Australian Open tune-up.
Friday's other semifinal will pit German Florian Mayer against French fellow non-seed Gael Monfils. Mayer, who upset Wimbledon and two-time Doha champion Andy Murray on Wednesday, edged out Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, while the former top-10 star and 2012 Doha runner-up Monfils mauled German Daniel Brands 6-2, 6-1.
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