Nadal beats Tomic to reach semifinals at Mercedes Cup

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) Top-seeded Rafael Nadal overcame stiff resistance from Bernard Tomic to reach the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup with a 6-4, 6-7 (6),

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) Top-seeded Rafael Nadal overcame stiff resistance from Bernard Tomic to reach the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup with a 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 victory on Friday.

Nadal will next play fourth-seeded Gael Monfils, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

The tournament is a grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon and Nadal said he was pleased with his game. After needing 2 hours, 40 minutes to beat Marcos Baghdatis on Thursday, Nadal was stretched again a day later, staying on court for 2 hours, 20 minutes.

But Nadal said he played ''better than yesterday'' and against an opponent who is very comfortable on the fast surface.

Nadal seized the early momentum in the third set by taking a 3-0 lead to finish off the fifth-seeded Tomic.