Updates: Nadal Leads Nishikori In Paris

Rafael Nadal led seventh-seeded Japanese star Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1, 4-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros on Tuesday, when heavy rain suspended play.

The 11-time champion, who has a 90-2 match record at the clay-court major championship, will next challenge third seed and 2009 titlist Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka, the No. 24 seed and 2015 winner in the semi-finals. Nadal has a 23-15 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Federer and is 18-3 lifetime against Wawrinka.

Nadal came within one point of taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, which he clinched in 34 minutes with service breaks in the second and sixth games. Nishikori, with back-to-back five-set wins over No. 31 seed Laslo Djere and Benoit Paire in his legs, won 10 of his 22 service points.

There were three straight service breaks at the start of the second set, but Nadal held onto his early momentum and grew in confidence once more, committing just four unforced errors. He saved four break points at the start of the third set, then broke Nishikori at 2-1.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/318olZd