( CNN ) -- World No . 1 Rafael Nadal is looking forward to renewing his `` special '' tennis rivalry with Roger Federer in the semifinals of the Masters Series event in Miami on Friday . The duo , who have won 110 ATP Tour titles between them , will meet on U.S. soil for the first time since 2005 -- which was also the last year they clashed at the last-four stage of a tournament , the French Open . Nadal battled past Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych in Thursday 's second quarterfinal after No . 3 Federer received easy passage when Frenchman Gilles Simon retired with a neck injury while 3-0 down in the opening set . Nadal was beaten by Federer in five sets in the 2005 Miami final , having stunned the Swiss as a 17-year-old in the third round of the same event the previous year . Since then Nadal has won 13 of their 20 clashes -- 12 of them in finals . `` Very few times we 've played in the semifinals of a tournament . The rest of the matches are finals and important for big titles , '' the Spaniard told the ATP website . Boxer Haye tips Murray to fight back . `` It 's always special to play against him and have these matches , very important matches for both of our careers : finals of Roland Garros , finals of Wimbledon , of Australian Open , a lot of finals in Masters 1000s . `` That makes the rivalry very , very special . I do n't know if rivals in the rest of the history of tennis played as many matches as we 've played . '' Nadal will go into the showdown troubled by a worrying problem in his right arm , which affected his movement in the 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over last year 's runner-up Berdych -- who he also beat in the 2010 Wimbledon final . `` First time in my life I felt something like this , it 's really strange . Especially since the left arm I could do aggressive movements , but the right was really strange . Seriously , I could n't understand during the match what happened , '' the two-time Miami runner-up said . Federer , also the 2006 champion at Crandon Park , has a 5-2 advantage over Nadal in hard-court events . `` I think in the beginning , early on in my career when I became the world No . 1 , I did n't really have that rival , and I was very happy about it , '' the 16-time grand slam champion said . Tired Clijsters crashes out in Miami . `` I was just able to win , win , win , and dominate and go on and lose , you know , 10 matches in two years kind of thing . That was quite incredible . So in the beginning I guess I struggled to embrace the rivalry I had with Rafa . `` Only later on I was able to say , 'This is actually quite cool . ' Sleeveless , pirate pants , you name it -- long hair , lefty , spins , more with the flat shots and so forth , and double-handed against one-handed , lefty against righty . I think it all kind of made sense , and I was able to embrace it then . `` I think we had some good times in the past , and they have changed into what it is today . Really respectful and helping each other for good causes , foundation matches , you name it , for tsunamis . We 've done so many things together . It 's been a lot of fun . '' The winner of the Nadal-Federer tie is likely to face a player who is threatening to end their dominance of the men 's game , Novak Djokovic . The Serbian is unbeaten in 22 matches this year , and defeated both icons on his way to victory at Indian Wells last time out . His semifinal win over Federer in the California desert lifted him to second in the rankings , and he will be seeking his second Miami title if he can beat new American No . 1 Mardy Fish for the sixth successive time in Friday 's opening semifinal . In the women 's event , two-time runner-up Maria Sharapova will play 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka in Saturday 's final . Sharapova , who will return to the top-10 for the first time since 2009 following her recent run of good results , avenged her Australian Open defeat by Germany 's Andrea Petkovic . The Russian triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-2 , winning 11 games in a row after losing the first set . `` I 'm really happy I 'm back in the finals here , '' the 2005 and 2006 losing finalist said of her first Miami outing in four years . `` I 'm almost lucky to be here . I had a tough one the other night and another three-setter today . Andrea has been playing the best tennis of her career and beat some good players here , so I was really happy I was able to change things around after losing the first set . '' Eighth seed Azarenka of Belarus followed up her win over defending champion Kim Clijsters with a 6-3 6-3 win over Vera Zvonareva that ended the Russian 's hopes of reclaiming the No . 2 ranking from the Belgian this weekend . Azarenka reached her 12th career WTA final , and will be seeking her sixth title .
Rafael Nadal reaches semifinals in Miami , beating 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych . World No . 1 will face his old rival Roger Federer in last four for first time since 2005 . Comment: Maria Sharapova will face 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka in women 's final .