Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has reached the final of the Shanghai Masters after he recorded a three-set victory over Rafael Nadal.

The Frenchman looked second best after receiving a second-set bagel, but he regained his composure to win by a 6-4 0-6 7-5 scoreline.

Despite the two having played each other on 11 previous occasions, they had not met since the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013, and it appeared as though Tsonga had benefited more from the break after he sent down six aces on the way to taking the opening set.

However, Nadal, who has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks after a wretched 2015, stormed back with three breaks of serve to force the contest into a decider.

Neither man would strike until the 11th game, when Tsonga broke Nadal's serve for the second time, and the 16th seed was able to successfully serve out the match for a place in Sunday's final.