Last weekend, Martin Klizan trailed world No. 927 Xin Gao 6-4, 5-1 in China Open qualifying. The rest is now history.
Klizan saved three match points during his comeback against Gao, qualified for the main draw, and is suddenly through to the last four after stunning Rafael Nadal 6-7(7), 6-4 , 6-3 on Friday night. The world No. 56 trailed by a set and a break and by a break in the third set before storming back to prevail in two hours and 37 minutes. From 3-2 down in the third, Klizan won 16 of the match’s last 18 points.
“For me this victory, [this is] the best night in my life,” Klizan assured. “I’m just very happy that I beat Rafa. He’s a legend. I’m just very happy that I beat a legend.”
“I knew for me it’s probably going to be hard, this last part of the season,” said Nadal, who was playing in his first tournament since a three-month layoff due to wrist problems. “It will not be easy after what happened. Always when you are outside for a few months, as I said the other day, it is not the same as if you are coming back the next season and everybody starts from zero. You are coming back now, and the other players are on the road, are in rhythm. Physically you feel more tired.”
Next up for Klizan is Tomas Berdych, who maintained his dominance of Beijing doubles partner John Isner with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Saturday’s other semifinal will pit Novak Djokovic against Andy Murray. Djokovic steamrolled through Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, while Murray crushed U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-4.
The other U.S. Open finalist, runner-up Kei Nishikori, showed no signs of slowing down at the Rakuten Japan Open. Nishikori eased into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 rout of Jeremy Chardy that required just one hour and 25 minutes. The Japanese star will next face Benjamin Becker, who won an all-unseeded quarterfinal against Jack Sock 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Milos Raonic, who lost to Nishikori in a five-setter in the U.S. Open fourth round, ensured that a rematch is possible in the Tokyo final as he took care of Denis Istomin 7-6(8), 6-3. The Canadian fired 15 aces and did not face a single break point despite double-faulting six times. Meanwhile, Gilles Simon dropped Americans to an 0-2 record on the day by taking out Steve Johnson 7-6(4), 6-1.
[polldaddy poll=8350393]
[polldaddy poll=8350393]
Fedal can’t even grab a 500 pointer these days.
^^Telling me! Wouldn’t recommend you un-cork the champers just yet @filter, the younger half of Fedal is not done yet.