Beijing - Rafael Nadal saved a Novak Djokovic smash on match point to force an error from the Serb early Saturday and send the Spaniard into the Beijing Olympic final 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Third seed Djokovic, who had saved a match point in the tenth game, hammered an overhead which Nadal scrambled to save. But the nervous Serb then sent his own return wide to hand a dramatic victory to Nadal.

The world number one who takes over the top spot on Monday from Roger Federer after four and a half years, will play for the gold medal against Fernando Gonzalez.

James Blake, who upset Federer in the quarters, faces Djokovic for the bronze medal.

The proud Federer shrugged off his earlier loss as he and Stan Wawrinka combined to stun the top-seeded American Bryan brothers, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 to earn a medal spot in the doubles final.

It was the second match of the day for the Swiss pair at the end of a rain-hit week after claiming a quarter-final over Indians Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes 6-2, 6-4.

The team will play Swedes Simon Aspellin and Thomas Johansson in the final.

Earlier, Blake fired a verbal serve over sportsmanship at double Athens gold medallist Gonzalez before exiting their semi- final 4-6, 7-5, 11-9.

The American, known for patchy form, was unable to follow up on his sensational upset of Federer the day before, losing to the Chilean in a bad-tempered struggle.

Blake is noted as best behaved on court, but the number seven did not spare his temper in defeat.

Blake accused Gonzalez of not admitting that a return from the American touched his racket before landing out on a late point in the three-hour drama which went to the South American from referee Carlos Berardo.

"It's a disappointing way to exit the tournament," complained Blake, 28. "Not only do you lose the match, you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor.

"The Olympics are considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself," said Blake, who failed to convert on three match points.

"We know when it touches us, he knew that. That's where it comes into calling it on yourself. Should I expect him to do that? Maybe not."

Gonzalez said he was so tired that he didn't know if the ball touched his racket of not.

Dinara Safina won her 14th match in a row reaching the women's semi-finals 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 over Jelena Jankovic.

The Russian's victory will also knock the Serb from her newly acquired number one ranking.

Safina, sixth on the WTA, has been on a tear this summer, her last loss coming in the Wimbledon third round. In the interim she has won hard court titles at Stanford and Montreal.

Jankovic saved a match point before falling to the loss.

Safin will next pit herself against the pride of China as she takes on Li Na for a place in the final. The 42nd-ranked Chinese has won both of their previous meetings, the last at the Australian Open in 2007.