Nadal stays on track in Toronto with win over Cilic

Rafael Nadal recovered from a slow start, overcoming Marin Cilic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 as the Spaniard's chase for a long-sought ATP Masters title on hardcourt heated up.

The world number one reached the semi-finals in Toronto and will next face Russian Karen Khachanov, who beat Robin Haase 6-3, 6-1. Nadal last won a title at this level on cement in 2013.

"It was a very important match for me," Nadal said.

"Being in semi-finals is great news at the start of the hard court season.

"And winning three good matches in the first Master 1000, it's so important for me.

"He played unstoppable in the first set. I resisted, I played with the right tactic. I tried to find my solutions - but it was so difficult."
"I don't know what happened (in the second set), I just broke him (for 4-5). All along I could feel the crowd support, I knew I was still in the match."
- Canadian rematch -
====================
"Right from the first point till the last, I felt I was in a really good frame of mind, playing the kind of tennis that I knew I wanted to be playing and needed to be playing."
"Getting off the court pretty comfortably definitely is a really good feeling."