Rafael Nadal defeated Dimitrov to register his 15 consecutive wins to reach semis of the Shanghai Masters. The world no.1 won 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in two hours and 35 minutes. Nadal, who has never won the title in Shanghai, will face fourth seed Marin Cilic in the last four.
Top seed Nadal is chasing a tour-leading seventh title this season and beat Bulgaria's Dimitrov for the second time in a week following his semi-final victory at the China Open.
The Spaniard, 31, breezed through the first set but was unable to break Dimitrov in the second, and the Bulgarian was strong in the tie-break to force a deciding set.
Dimitrov, ranked eighth in the world, had break point early in the third set, but Nadal saved it with a backhand volley before winning three consecutive games.