Rafael Nadal seed dug deep to save a set point in the second set and prevailed in a high-quality quarter-final over 12th seed Karen Khachanov 7-6(2), 7-6(2).
Nadal will face Roger Federer on Saturday in semi-final action.
He leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 23-15, but Federer has won two of their three clashes in the desert.
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