RAFA Nadal has been knocked out of the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati by Serb player Novak Djokovic.

Following yesterday’s grim results for the Mallorca-born ace, Djokovic will now play Roger Federer in the finals.

After Saturday’s game in which Nadal wiped the floor with Czech player Tomas Berdych, everything seemed to point to the Spaniard having recovered his rhythm and confidence after being out of the game for two months following an injury.

But Djokovic beat Nadal in two sets by 6-1 and 6-4, securing his place in the finals.

Yet the pair were almost neck-and-neck throughout most of the match, but Djokovic’s relentless playing eventually won out.

This is the second time he has knocked Rafa out of the Cincinnati tournament in the semi-finals, having done so in 2008.

Djokovic is number four in the world, and today he will play against Roger Federer, who is number one.