Nadal clinches medal by beating Djokovic

BEIJING -- Rafael Nadal has clinched at least a silver medal by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the Olympic semifinals.

Nadal's opponent in the final Sunday will be Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, who beat James Blake of the United States earlier Friday. Djokovic can still win a bronze.

The medal will be the first for Nadal, who came to Beijing assured of earning the No. 1 ranking for the first time next week, ending Roger Federer's 4ˆ½-year reign.

Nadal closed out his latest victory in dramatic fashion. On match point he scrambled to retrieve two overhead slams by Djokovic. When the flustered Serb shanked a third overhead, Nadal collapsed to the hard court in jubilation.