Nadal clinches medal by beating Djokovic

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 4 1/2-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.