AFP

Rome, May 13: Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal swept into the Rome Masters semi-finals with a ruthless 6-2, 6-3 win over up-and-coming Serb Novak Djokovic.

Victory for the world number two extended his record winning streak on clay to 75 matches on Friday and set up a last four meeting with Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko.

Fifth seed Djokovic, who leads the ATP with 33 wins, was the last player to beat Nadal having won their hardcourt Miami quarter-final on March 29.

But reigning Rome champion Nadal is a different proposition on clay and the Serbian 19-year-old, winner of three ATP titles this year, rarely troubled the Mallorcan left-hander.

Nadal has triumphed here for the past two years and is aiming to become the first player to win the Foro Italico event three times in a row.

The 20-year-old Spaniard's task was made easier when world number one Roger Federer, whom he beat in last year's Rome final, was knocked out in the third round by Italian wild card Filippo Volandri.

Nadal, whose last defeat on clay was way back in April, 2005 against Russian Igor Andreev in the Valencia quarter-finals, insisted his victory over Djokovic was not as easy as it looked.

"Djokovic is a difficult opponent and he made me work hard for the win, but I was more consistent. I played at a high level and I gave 100 percent on every point," he said.

"My fitness was good and my forehand worked very well. My backhand was okay, but could have been better. Overall I am very happy with my performance."