The 16-time Grand Slam champion won the opening set but dropped the second before recovering to seal a 6-3, 6-7, 6- victory at the AccorHotels Arena in this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. 

Nadal, guaranteed to end the year as the world number one, will take on Filip Krajinović after the Serbian overcame Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Fifth seed Dominic Thiem of Austria was the highest-profile casualty today as he was beaten in straight sets by Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

The Spaniard blew the highly-rated youngster away with a powerful display on his way to a 6-4, 6-4 success.

Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro is also through as he beat Dutchman Robin Haase 7-5, 6-4.

Del Potro, an Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016, will face John Isner of the United States for a place in the last four.

The big-serving American booked his place in the next round as he earned a hard-fought 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 triumph against Bulgaria's sixth seed Grigor Dmitrov.

American Coco Vandeweghe, Australian Ashleigh Barty and Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia secured their places in the semi-finals of the Women's Tennis Association Elite Trophy with victories in Zhuhai in China today.

Second seed Vandeweghe progressed after she claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Russia's Elena Vesnina in the Bougainvillea Group at the Hengqin Tennis Centre.

Barty ensured she escaped from the Rose Group with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 triumph over former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany.

The duo were joined in the last four of the tournament by Sevastova, who topped the Camellia Group by ousting Barbora Strýcová of the Czech Republic.

Action at both events is due to continue tomorrow.