Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after losing a point against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AP
SHANGHAI — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Juan Martin del Potro.
The fifth-ranked Del Potro overpowered Nadal with his deep, punishing groundstrokes, breaking the Spaniard twice at the start of the match to race out to a 4-0 lead.
The Argentine broke Nadal again to start the second set, and saved all six break points he faced to get his first victory over the Spaniard in four years.
Del Potro will try to win his first Masters title on Sunday against top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the other semifinal, 6-2, 7-5.
Nadal was playing his first tournament since regaining the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic on Monday.