Djokovic, Nadal ease into Rome semi-finals

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal turned in command performances on Friday to roar into the Rome Masters semi-finals, with both players rating their current tennis at near the top of their abilities.

Defending champion Djokovic, the top seed, fought through the first set, before racing away in the second to beat French fifth seedJo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 6-1.

"In the second set I played one of the best sets on clay this year," said the Serb.

"This is encouraging for the challenges ahead. With Roland Garroscoming, I'm playing and feeling better in every match."

Djokovic was tested early on by Tsonga in a first set filled with five breaks of serve. But after winning the opener in nearly an hour, Tsonga's defences collapsed as the top seed came home for his 29th win of the season.

"I really don't compare with 2011 (when he won three of the four majors). This is a new year and I have had great results so far."

Second seed Nadal got the better of Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych, grinding out a 6-4, 7-5 win.

"I played one of my best matches on clay against a difficult opponent," said the five-time Rome winner.

"I'm happy to do so well after also playing well in Monte Carlo and Barcelona (where he won both titles). It was a big match because the level of the opponent was high and he plays with big confidence. I played under pressure all the time."

Nadal will face off in the final four against compatriot and sixth seed David Ferrer, who beat French 15th seed Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

Djokovic will tackle either Roger Federer or Italy's giant-killer Andreas Seppi.

Spanish rivals Nadal and Ferrer went toe-to-toe less than three weeks ago, with Nadal winning the final to take his seventh trophy on home clay in Barcelona.

Nadal showed he has regained his blistering form after a poor third-round loss a week ago on blue clay in Madrid as he beat Berdych for the 11th time in succession in a struggle lasting just over two hours.

The French Open champion produced 34 winners and just 10 unforced errors in a superlative display, while Berdych went for broke throughout, posting 28 winners and 24 unforced errors and losing serve three times.

World number three Nadal has now won all but two of his 36 matches at the Foro Italico and has emerged victorious in all three clay meetings with a player he also beat in the 2010 Wimbledon final.

Meanwhile, Ferrer needed an hour and three-quarters before putting out Gasquet, who played the Estoril final on clay earlier this month.

The gutsy Spaniard, who is still seeking his first title this season, is through to the quarter-finals in Rome for the first time.