The fourth seed and three-time champion Rafael Nadal avanced to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win over fifth-seed Kei Nishikori on Friday afternoon.

Nishikori broke early and had points for a 4-1 double-break lead, before Rafa found his groove.

Our champ fought back to level at 3-3 and from 4-4 reeled off five straight games to steal the opener and take a commanding lead in the second set. Rafa had a point for 4-0, before Nishikori halted his momentum. After getting a foothold in the set, Nishikori then brought himself back into contention with a break in the seventh game. But Rafa regained his advantage in the following game and served out victory in one hour and 33 minutes.

Rafa will face either top seed Novak Djokovic or No. 7 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last four.

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action in his match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action in his match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their men’s quarterfinal match, on March 18, 2016, at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. AFP/Robyn Beck

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts while playing Kei Nishikori, of Japan, during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain is congratulated by Kei Nishikori of Japan after his straight sets win during day twelve of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain shakes hands with Kei Nishikori of Japan after beating him in straight sets during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a forehand during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his straight set win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during day twelve of the 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 18, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Source: BNP Paribas Open