Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the quarter-finals of the Doha Open with Rafael Nadal facing Ernests Gulbis.

GAME, SET AND MATCH NADAL! A tough match, but Nadal has come through with a typically gutsy performance. Looked in a spot of bother in the first set, but he is thrilled as Gulbis whacks a forehand wide of the target. Nadal made 11 unforced errors compared to 31 from Gulbis. That proved crucial to the outcome of the match.

Nadal one game away from his second straight semi-final in Doha. Gulbis has fought bravely, but he will need to break Nadal to stay alive in the match. Nadal's power and precision proving just too good in the last game.

Gulbis showing a lovely little touch at the net in that game with a winning drop shot on his way to pocketing the game. He remains a break down, but at least he is asking the question of Nadal. Nadal two games away from a place in the last four. He serves 3-4 behind.

A stunning get from Nadal in that game to prevent Gulbis from breaking back. It looked odds on that Gulbis had passed him when leading 40-30, but the world number one dived at full stretch to nudge the ball back over the net for a winner. Classic Nadal! He takes the game to cement his break.

BREAK TO NADAL! Gulbis makes a mess of an attempted drop shot. The ball clips the net, but falls backwards. The frustration is evident on Gulbis's face as he knocks a ball long from deep to give Nadal two break points. The Spaniard misses a forehand with the first one, but Gulbis is long again on the next point and Nadal has the break. In control, but work to be done to get over the winning line.

These men have been going for one hour and 27 minutes. Difficult to work out which way it is going to fall. Nadal back on terms in this set at 2-2. Watched by his mum and girlfriend, but certainly giving the other spectators value for money. Nadal with another hold.

A pulsating rally in that game as Nadal sends a backhand winner flashing beyond Gulbis from the back of the court. Gublis can only applaud, but he does not panic as a couple of decent serves give him the platform to open up a 2-1 lead. This match has life in it yet.

Nadal restores parity in the second game of the second set. He is level at 1-1. Even though he is finding life a struggle at times in this one, Nadal continues to dig deep. We remain on serve.

Dangerous times for Gulbis, but he steadies the ship with an assured opening service game in the second set. Can't let the disappointment of losing the opening set on a tie-break affect his stride, and he doesn't. Has thrown down eight aces in the match.

SET TO NADAL! Nadal edges 4-1 clear in the tie-break. Maybe not feeling or looking his old self, but he is certainly not lacking any desire to get the job done. Gulbis recovers to 4-3 aided by a powerful backhand winner, but he hammers a forehand into the net as Nadal moves 5-3 up. Gulbis is long on the next point as Nadal moves 6-3 ahead in the tie-break. He completes the win with a big forehand to take the opening set.

Gulbis makes a mess of a serve-volley to open the door for Nadal at 15-30 as he hits the net with the volley. A smash enables Gulbis to level at 30-30 before the Latvian hammers a winner down the line to move 40-30 ahead. He carries it to a tie-break with a big first serve that Nadal can only smack into the net.

A perfect response from Nadal as he produces a love game at exactly the right time. Gulbis is forced to hold serve for a second time to stay in the set. Nadal with three aces in the match to six from Gulbis.

Nadal speaking to the trainer about his condition. He is not feeling in peak state due to a fever, but Gulbis keeps his concentration to hold serve comfortably enough as he levels at 5-5. Nadal serves to move ahead.

Nadal really up it against it in that game. He was three break points down, but pulled it out of the fire with some blistering groundstrokes. Gulbis really involved in the rallies, dictating play with some power. He saves the game with a ferocious forehand down the line on Nadal's second serve. A Nadal smash sees him edge ahead, and he completes the hold with a volley that Gulbis knocks into the net. Gulbis will serve to stay alive in the set.

Gublis recovers from 0-30 to pocket the game. A fine effort to hold serve with Nadal seemingly about to break again. Nadal almost converted a running forehand winner, but flicked it just wide. Suddenly this match is back in the balance.

BREAK BACK TO GULBIS! Nadal throws in a first double fault of the match as Gulbis wins his seventh straight point to bring up three break points. Nadal saves one, but the two-handed backhand is hammered down a line for the winner. Superb response from Gulbis.

Gulbis winning only 25 per cent of points when he fails to get his first serve in. That suggests the first serve has to be working for him to trouble the Spaniard. He throws in a decent serving game there, and will try to break Nadal for the first time.

Nadal wasting little or no time in asserting his authority. Holds to love to lead 4-1 with a break. Like Federer earlier, Nadal is quickly into his stride here. Looking a class above Gulbis, but there is time yet for the Latvian to recover.

BREAK TO NADAL! Gulbis escaped in his opening service game, but not that time. Facing a break point, Gulbis opted to go down the line rather than across court after his serve, and was punished as Nadal floated a forehand beyond him and just inside the baseline. A winner for Nadal. Little wonder he is punching his fist.

Gulbis goes for a big winner trailing 40-30, but he is wide of the mark. Nadal leads 40-30 and seals the game with a well-placed second serve and a thumping forehand winner. The world number one leads 2-1.