Rafael Nadal takes out Philipp Kohlschreiber in four sets on Monday in New York, but there will be no Nadal vs. Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Instead, the world No. 2 will have an all-Spanish clash on his hands against Tommy Robredo.
(2) Rafael Nadal d. (22) Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-1
Nadal booked a spot in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open by fighting past Kohlschreiber in three hours and 12 minutes on Monday night. The Spaniard had not dropped a set through three rounds, but Kohlschreiber–fresh off another New York upset of John Isner–came out firing. Kohlschreiber blasted 20 winners–double his opponent’s total–and took control early in a tiebreaker after neither man could break serve in the opener.
The rest of the way, however, it was mostly all Nadal. This fortnight’s No. 2 seed broke midway through the second set and quickly in both the third and the fourth to really crush Kohlschreiber’s hopes of an upset. A more aggressive Nadal struck more winners than the German in each of the last three frames following the first set aberration, while at the same time recording either the same amount or a few number of unforced errors in each of the last three sets. One more routine hold at 5-1 in the fourth sent Nadal though to an all-Spanish showdown against Tommy Robredo.
“My serve is working just amazing,” Nadal said. “Four matches without losing serve is great.”
(19) Tommy Robredo d. (7) Roger Federer 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4
Playing in Louis Armstrong for the first time since 2006 due to a rain delay, Federer went down to Robredo in a stunning two hours and 24 minutes during fourth-round action on Monday. The former world No. 1 was once again doomed by break-point conversions, as he went two for 16 against Robredo. Federer also served at a modest 60 percent, which hurt his chances because he won only 47 percent of the points when he had to toss in a second delivery.
Robredo twice gave back a break in the first set, at 2-1 and at 5-4, but he held his nerve with a clutch hold at 5-6 and in the tiebreaker when he earned two late mini-breaks at 4-3 and 5-3. In sets two and three, the 31-year-old Spaniard saved a combined 12 break points–six in each. Robredo eventually broke to 4-3 in the third and took care of his next two service games without much trouble to clinch victory.
“When I [walked in to the stadium], it was like two percent noise. When he was [walking] inside, it seemed like a concert,” Robredo joked about Federer. “It was so good to have the chance to beat a guy like him in such [a] stadium…. I beat the best guy of all time in a place that he loves to play. I’m delighted. I made the break points, he did not. I think that was the only difference.”
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I loved Robredo’s celebrations after the match. He was overwhelmed with joy and rightly so after being beaten so many times by Fed.
This goes to show you that if you work hard and believe in yourself you can do great things.
Sorry for Fed fans, the lights seem to be dimming for the maestro. Just a fact of life, respect.
Nadal is another story. As long as his spirit and knees, or the other way around, hold he still has some pages to write in his tennis career. Nothing short of amazing.