"Two semifinals in a row, first two Masters 1000 of the season for me is positive, " Nadal said.
CNN: Roddick serves up semifinal upset with victory over Nadal
However, his performances in Shanghai as he collected a sixth Masters 1000 title appear to have restored Murray's belief.
The men's ATP tour now moves to Miami for another big Masters 1000 event where Britain's Andy Murray will look to defend his title.
But returning this spring to his favored clay, Nadal once again looks all-conquering with wins at the Masters 1000 tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome.
He will return to singles action in the Masters 1000 tournament with a second match round against either compatriot David Ferrer or Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
It was a deeply satisfying result for Ljubicic who, at the age of 31, became the oldest first-time winner of an ATP Tour Masters 1000 title in history.
Soderling's win means he has now reached his second straight Masters 1000 semi-final, following up on his trip to the final four at Indian Wells where lost to Roddick.
Federer, world No. 2, defeated Tomas Berdych in the 2012 Madrid final and is looking for a 22nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, which would see him draw level with Nadal's tally.
Nadal has made the title his own at the distinctive clay court tournament overlooking the Mediterranean and was clinching his 20th in a Masters 1000 tournament, the first man to reach that landmark.
Djokovic is now aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Monte Carlo, saying he is well prepared for the transition from hard to clay courts.
World No. 1 Roger Federer begins his bid for a record-equaling 17th Masters 1000 tournament victory against Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti on Saturday, while third seed and defending champion Andy Murray takes on American Mardy Fish.
CNN: Djokovic dumped out in Miami; Clijsters and Henin progress
Later on Saturday, world No. 1 Roger Federer begins his bid for a record-equaling 17th Masters 1000 tournament victory against Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, who made it into the main draw as a lucky loser in qualifying.
CNN: Champion Murray battered by Fish in another Miami upset
The men traditionally focus on the big indoor tournaments in the European autumn with lucrative stops in Moscow, Basel and Valencia before the final counting event of the season at Bercy in Paris and the final Masters 1000.
The Briton finally put the memory of his early exit at the US Open well and truly behind him as he won 6-3 6-2 to claim his second title of the year and sixth at the elite Masters 1000 level.
BBC: Andy Murray beats Roger Federer to win Shanghai Masters
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