Nadal and Djokovic reach Beijing last four

(CNN) -- Top seed Rafael Nadal and second seed Novak Djokovic are both through to the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing, although they suffered contrasting fortunes in securing their last four places.

Rafael Nadal dropped just four games as he cruised into the semifinals of the China Open.

World number two Nadal, who struggled to get past American James Blake on Thursday, was in far more dominant form against Russian veteran Marat Safin, taking just an hour and 17 minutes to wrap up a 6-3 6-1 victory.

The Spaniard will now play Croatia's Marin Cilic, who caused a surprise with a comfortable 6-4 6-4 win over fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, for a place in the final.

Djokovic will meet Sweden's Robin Soderling in the other semifinal, but the Serb was taken to three sets by Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Djokovic led by a set but dropped his serve twice as the fifth seed took the second set 6-1 to level the match.

However, Djokovic responded in kind as two breaks of his own wrapped up a 6-3 1-6 6-1 win.