Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal says he has renewed vigour following his run to the Indian Wells semi-finals, where he lost to world number one and defending two-time champion Novak Djokovic.

“I going to try to follow this to keep going at this level,” said Nadal, who lost 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to pre-tournament favourite Djokovic. The world No.1 faces Canadian Milos Raonic, who overpowered Belgian David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

“If I am able to play weeks in a row at this level, then I can start to think about competing for everything.”

Nadal’s resurgent run to the semi-finals will go a long ways to boost his confidence but it also should quiet the critics who say his career is in a tailspin.

The 29-year-old Spaniard is considered the greatest claycourt player ever and he has his nine French Open crowns among his 14 Grand Slam titles to show it.

But in the past two years he’s lost five times on clay to players ranked outside the top 15 and heading into Indian Wells he was 0-4 this year against players ranked in the top 50 this season.

“I played well during the week,” said Nadal. “I won very interesting matches, good ones, fighting.

“Today was closer than the last couple of times against the best player of world, so was a very positive week for me.”

Nadal has won the Indian Wells title three times but not since 2013. He won three times in 2015 but he lost in the first round of this year’s Australian Open to Fernando Verdasco, a player he has owned since they were teens growing up together in Spain.

“He was better,” said Djokovic of Nadal. “The first set was decided in one or two points, the second set was very close.

“I’m just glad to overcome this challenge that is one of the greatest in sport, playing against Rafa.”

Raonic, the world number 14 who is going through a makeover under the tutelage of new coach Carlos Moya, blasted 10 aces in the two-hour match to help counter 35 unforced errors.

“I lost my way a little in the second set, but in the third I stuck to my identity,” Raonic said.

The 25-year-old Raonic roared through the first set in 34 minutes but struggled in the second with his serve as he tried to increase speed without sacrificing other components of his game.

“I feel even when I am not playing my best I am able to find the answers,” said Raonic. “I am definitely able to play at a higher level this year and when a crisis occurs during a match I can find the solutions better.”

Raonic, known for dominating opponents with his booming serve, has added more variety to his serve and backhand shots as he put 18th-ranked Goffin away with early breaks in the first and third sets.

He credits former world number one Moya with helping him add new shots to his game and those changes are holding up even after a six-week layoff due to a torn thigh muscle.

The injury flared up in his five-set semi-final loss to Andy Murray at the Australian Open and Raonic was unable to play in the Davis Cup earlier this month when Canada lost 5-0 to France.

Raonic reached his first final since winning at Brisbane in January. He improved to 14-1 on the season.

The Canadian blasted 39 winners to 22 for Goffin and won 81 per cent of his first serve points. He clocked one serve in the opening set at 146 mph (234 Km/h), the fastest of the tournament.

Results

Men

Semi-finals

Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Milos Raonic (CAN x12) bt David Goffin (BEL x15) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3