2010 Wimbledon: Nadal Sets Up Semifinal Date with Murray

World no.1 Rafael Nadal is two steps away from regaining the title he won in 2008 but was unable to defend last year due to an injury as he defeated Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

Nadal, the second seed, lost the first set, 3-6, to sixth-seeded Soderling, but found his rhythm just in time to rack up three-straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1, en route to the quarterfinal victory. Waiting for Nadal in the semifinal is home bet Andy Murray, who remained on course to breaking the local bets’ jinx at the  All England Club after the fourth seeded Briton turned back French tenth seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.

The other semifinal will pit third seed Nova Djokovic of Serbia against the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, who shocked the world with a superb thrashing of defending champion and six-time Wimbledon king Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the women’s semifinals will take place on Thursday with defending champion and top seed Serena Williams taking on unseeded Petra Kvitova and 21st seed Vera Zvonareva slugging it out with Tsvetana Pironkova.