Nadal powers his way into the semi finals in California

RAFAEL Nadal has moved a step closer to defending his title at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Centre after overcoming Tomas Berdych in straight sets.

POWERING THROUGH: Rafael Nadal overcame Tomas Berdych in straight sets to book himself a semi-final place in Indian Wells (Getty Images)

Nadal faced seven break points in the match, saving all but two of them, as he registered a 6-4, 7-6 victory in two hours and 11 minutes over the Czech to tee up a last-four clash with big-hitting Ivan Ljubicic in California.

Victory in the last four against Ljubicic tomorrow would secure the Spaniard a third appearance in the final in four years at Indian Wells.

And the 23-year-old is confident he can reach the final in his first event since pulling out of the Australian Open with a knee injury during his quarter-final match with Andy Murray.

"I played really well, especially the first set," said Nadal.

"The first probably eight, nine games of the match were at an unbelievable level but later the wind came a little bit and it was more difficult to play.

"It's very good news for me to be in semi-finals.

"Any opponent is going to be really difficult, and Ljubicic is a big opponent with a big serve.

"He's playing well with from the baseline so it's going to be difficult match.

"I think I am playing well too and I'm going to try my best to be in this final."

The game was tight in the opening encounters but at 4-4, the Spaniard stepped up a gear breaking Berdych to love in the next game before serving out the set.

The Czech sent the second set to a tie-break, once again fighting back to recover a service break in the eighth game, and assumed the first mini-break as he used his pace to retrieve a Nadal drop shot.

But with the pair back on serve at 4-4 in the tie-break, Berdych double-faulted to swing the match Nadal's way and the Spaniard won the final two points to put away the victory.

Croatian Ljubicic, who knocked out world number two Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, defeated Argentina's Juan Monaco 4-6 6-2 6-1 earlier in the day smashing 11 aces and 39 winners to take the victory.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles sixth seed Jelena Jankovic booked her place in the semi finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Alisa Kleybanova.

And Australian Samantha Stosur continued her impressive tournament with a straight sets victory over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to set up a next round clash with Jankovic.