Rafael Nadal remains in cruise control with a convincing win over Jeremy Chardy in the Vina del Mar semifinals on Saturday. Nadal will battle Horacio Zeballos for the title.
Rafael Nadal is wasting no time making a mockery of the Golden Swing.
Nadal coasted through a third consecutive match at his comeback event on Saturday night, dismissing Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and four minutes. The top-seeded Spaniard held all eight of his service games to book a spot in the final against Horacio Zeballos.
If an in-form Chardy was expected to be Nadal’s toughest test of the week, that notion was squashed right from the start. Nadal seized breaks in the first and third games, converting both chances on forehand errors by Chardy. Vina del Mar’s No. 3 seed finally held twice, but Nadal finished the opening set with a routine hold at 5-2.
It was all but over when Chardy donated serve at 1-1 in the second, again due to an errant forehand. The 26th-ranked Frenchman had a golden opportunity to get back on serve with a 0-40 advantage in the sixth game, but Nadal promptly won five consecutive points. An insurance break allowed the world No. 5 to serve for the match at 5-2, and he quickly capitalized on match point with his second ace.
Nadal wrapped up his effort with five of five break points saved and he served at 80 percent. The 11-time Grand Slam champion, making an impressive return after seven months on the sidelines, earned four breaks despite seeing Chardy serve at 79 percent.
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