Nadal wins, Federer loses in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rafael Nadal has won and Roger Federer has lost in the semifinals of the season-opening Capitala exhibition tournament.

Nadal beat Spanish Davis Cup teammate David Ferrer 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 on Friday to secure a place in the final against Robin Soderling, who earlier dispatched the top-ranked Federer 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-1), 6-2. The players held serve in the opening two sets before Soderling broke the Swiss in the third and seventh games of the third set to earn his first victory over Federer in 13 matches.

The eighth-ranked Soderling broke into the top 10 with two wins over Nadal last year. The Swede first beat him in the fourth round of the French Open to end the Spaniard's 31-match winning streak.