Nadal's Russian obstacle

Nikolay Davydenko produced a fine comeback to stun Novak Djokovic and will face Rafael Nadal in the Shanghai Masters final.

Serbian Djokovic was made to work hard to take the first set, and Davydenko fought back confidently to level their match.

The Russian sixth seed hung in during the third set to reach a tie-break which he won with some fine play to seal a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7/1) victory in a shade over three hours.

Top seed Nadal advanced when Feliciano Lopez withdrew from their semi-final midway through the second set.

In the first semi, Djokovic saved a break point in game three and again in game nine as Davydenko probed his opponent.

But the Serbian showed his class to put pressure on the Davydenko serve, racing to 0-40 before converting to claim the first set.

However, Davydenko was unfazed, breaking in game seven of the second set as Djokovic pushed a forehand long - and that proved enough to level.

After both players spurned break opportunities - including Davydenko coming from 0-40 down in game six - Davydenko served to stay in the match at 5-4 and 6-5 ahead to take the third set into a tie-breaker.

The sixth seed secured an immediate mini-break, then raced into a 5-0 lead with a sublime passing shot as Djokovic crumbled.

Djokovic won back one of the mini-breaks but netted to give his opponent five match points.

And a stylish crosscourt forehand sent Davydenko into the final.

"He played too good," Djokovic told www.atpworldtour.com. "I'm disappointed, because I think I played a great match."

Nadal was barely tested as he strode into the championship game when Lopez withdrew with the score at 6-1 3-0 to the world number two.

Nadal drew first blood when he broke in game three following a poor Lopez forehand.

And the errors continued from the 28-year-old as he surrendered a second break and Nadal held with ease to leave his opponent serving to stay in the first set.

Lopez appeared to sustain an injury as he handed Nadal another break to give the Spaniard the first set inside 30 minutes.

He called for the trainer, who strapped up his right foot.

Lopez conceded another break at the start of the second set, and decided he could not continue after another service hold for Nadal.

It was the second day in a row Nadal had advanced thanks to the withdrawal of an opponent after Ivan Ljubicic pulled out of yesterday's quarter-final with the score level at 1-1 after the second set.

Nadal told Sky Sports 3: "I was a little bit lucky yesterday. Today I was winning but it's never nice to win like this, especially against a close friend like Feliciano.

"I just wish both players a speedy recovery.

"I'm just happy to be in the final - my first after the injury comeback."

Nadal predicted a tough day's work tomorrow against Davydenko.

He said: "He's playing really well. He played a great match today against Novak. He's another level, I'm going to have a really difficult match. I'm going to try to be aggressive."