Rafael Nadal has registered a three-set victory over Grigor Dimitrov to reach the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

The world number one has not suffered defeat on the ATP Tour since before the US Open, and that run has been extended with a 6-4 6-7 6-3 win over Dimitrov.

Nadal required just one break of serve to claim the opening set, but Dimitrov showed resistance throughout the contest and deserved to take the left-hander to a tie-break in the second.

Dimitrov managed to stay with his opponent before taking it 7-4, but despite the Bulgarian having the momentum ahead of the third, Nadal was soon able to wrest back the initiative.

The French and US Open champion took his one and only opportunity to break and that proved to be enough to eventually seal his progress in two hours and 32 minutes.

Nadal will now face Marin Cilic in the last four after the Croatian got the better of Albert Ramos-Vinolas.