The four time champion in the Spanish capital collected his first win over Djokovic since the 2014 French Open final at La Caja Mágica.

Djokovic, who announced a split from his entire coaching team prior to the tournament, enjoyed a torrid start and found himself 4-0 down before Nadal went on to take the set 6-2.

Nadal then took the second 6-4 to advance to tomorrow's final at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour Masters 1000 event.

He will now face Austrian Dominic Thiem in tomorrow's final.

The 23-year-old, ranked ninth in the world, claimed a 6-4, 6-4 straight sets win over Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas.

Romania's Simona Halep successfully defended her Madrid Open title in the Women's Tennis Association Premier Mandatory event.

Halep, who was playing in her third final in the Spanish capital in four years, beat France's Kristina Mladenovic in three sets.

The Romanian won the first set 7-5 before Mladenovic, who appeared to suffer from a back strain, levelled the contest by winning the second set in a tiebreak.

After kicking her racket and receiving a violation from the umpire, Halep calmed down and went on to lift the title once again by winning the third set 6-2.

It continues a remarkable run on the clay surface for the Romanian, who has now won 22 of her last 25 matches on that type of court.