Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will face off in a much-anticipated rematch at the $3.6 million Pacific Life Open after both players advanced to the semifinals on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Spaniard owns a 6-2 edge in the all-time series against the 2008 Australian Open champion and will face Djokovic for the seventh time since their encounter here in 2007.Nadal needed just over two hours to move on, posting his first victory in four career matches against Blake.

The world No. 2 struggled against Blake’s serve, winning just 23 percent (10-of-43) of first-return points. However, Nadal stepped up when necessary, breaking Blake’s serve on three occasions while saving 6-of-8 break points. With the loss, Blake, who was ousted in the final here by world No. 1 Roger Federer in 2006, fell to 30-9 lifetime against lefthanded players.

Meanwhile, Djokovic continued his stellar play against Wawrinka and has yet to lose a set in four matches here. Djokovic blasted seven aces and won 74 percent (32-of-43) of first-serve points - including all 15 in the second set - against Wawrinka.

The 22-year-old Wawrinka, who managed to save 10-of-15 break points during the two-hour match, fell to 3-2 in the all-time series against Djokovic but was not disappointed with his performance. The first prize is $555,000.

Marat Safin does not seem to be having a good year. Fans of the ‘star’ are very disappointed with his performance. To think he was world number one at one time. Safin was defeated and has an early exit from the Pacific Life Open. Safin exits on Friday after suffering a 7-6 (7/5) 2-6 6-2 defeat against Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the first round of the Pacific Life Open.

The defeat sees Safin’s record in 2008 slip to just one win in five matches, while Melzer will now face 11th seed Andy Murray in the second round. How the mighty have fallen, it is sad to see Safin at such a juncture as he fails even to make it to any tournaments major league. In other matches American Sam Querrey, fresh from claiming his first ATP title win in Las Vegas on Sunday, defeated Peru’s Luis Horna 7-6 (7/5) 6-3.

The hard-serving American fired 12 aces and faced just one break point, while he also won 90% (36-of-40) of his first-serve points.

Querrey will face two-time winner and 24th seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the second round.
John Isner set-up a second round meeting with fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko after surviving a two hour 25 minute contest against Italy’s Simon Bolelli, eventually posting a 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/2) victory.