BEIJING � Serbia�s Novak Djokovic cruised into the semifinals of the China Open with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 victory against Spain�s Fernando Verdasco on Friday.

His serve broken three times in the second set, Djokovic came out fighting in the third, and the No. 4-ranked Serb strolled to victory over a weakened Verdasco, who had 19 unforced errorserrors for the match.
�I had ups and downs in today�s match,� Djokovic said. �Verdasco used his chances in the second set when he broke.
�I saved energy at the end of the second set for the refreshing start of the third and I was fortunate to do so.�
Djokovic�s semifinal opponent will be Sweden�s Robin Soderling, who beat Croatia�s Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Also making it to the semis was Croatia�s Marin Cilic, who downed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, 6-4, 6-4.