Madrid Open: Nadal races past Wawrinka into semis, Tsitsipas knocks out defending champion Zverev

Nadal will play Stefanos Tsitsipas, a winner over defending champion Alexander Zverev 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, for a place in Sunday’s final.

Five-time champion Rafael Nadal crushed Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-2 in barely an hour to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals on Friday.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during their ATP Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match at the Caja Magica in Madrid on May 10, 2019. (AFP)

Nadal will play Stefanos Tsitsipas, a winner over defending champion Alexander Zverev 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, for a place in Sunday’s final.

Second seed Nadal was playing his 14th Madrid quarter-final in the last 15 years.

Saturday’s other semi-final will see world number one Novak Djokovic up against Dominic Thiem who saved two match points in beating Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6 (13/11), 6-4.

Tsitsipas knocks out Zverev

Stefanos Tsitsipas knocked defending champion Alexander Zverev out of the Madrid Open in the quarter-finals on Friday, winning 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

German third seed Zverev has yet to win a trophy this season and stands 4-5 on clay this spring.

Tsitsipas, the eighth seeded Greek, will face either five-time champion Rafael Nadal or Stan Wawrinka for a place in the final.