Nadal outmuscles Blake in Miami quarter-finals

By Sandra Harwitt

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) - World number two Rafael Nadal powered to a 3-6 6-3 6-1 victory over James Blake on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Nadal defeated his American rival for the first time in his career at the Pacific Life Open quarter-finals two weeks ago and replicated the feat on Wednesday.

"Right now I am feeling like I am playing at my best level, so that's important, to come to the clay season with more confidence," Nadal told reporters,

"He started (out) playing so aggressive. I didn't have many chances in the beginning. I couldn't touch the ball. I couldn't get rhythm in the beginning -- nothing."

Blake made far too many mistakes during the one hour, 55 minute contest, producing 31 unforced errors compared with just 13 for second seed Nadal.

The American also offered Nadal 19 opportunities to break his serve, the triple French Open champion successfully doing so four times in total.

Nadal turned the match in his favor when he broke the ninth-seeded Blake with a sizzling backhand passing shot to go 5-3 up in the second set.

He greeted the break with his trademark fist pump and from then on Blake's challenge faded.