Rafael Nadal is through to a the Shanghai semifinals thanks to a straight-set win over Stanislas Wawrinka on Friday in Shanghai. Nadal will battle Juan Martin Del Potro for a spot in the title match. Hasad Murad recaps the match.
Rafael Nadal extended his perfect ascendancy over Stanislas Wawrinka as he improved to 11-0 lifetime against the Swiss with a hard-fought 7-6(10), 6-1 victory in one hour and 47 minutes during quarterfinal action at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Friday.
Both players emphatically held their opening service games. A string of brilliantly-manufactured points–including a running forehand lob winner–gave Nadal two break points in the third game of the match but Wawrinka snuffed them out with good serving and attacking tennis. The two quarterfinalists continued impressive serving and entertained a capacity crowd with excellent shot-making.
Nadal faced his first stern test when serving to stay in the first set at 5-6. Wawrinka combined the dexterity and firepower in his game to earn set point, which was erased by Nadal thanks to a blazing inside-out forehand. Nadal then closed out a tough game to force a tiebreaker.
Nadal took advantage of an early 3-0 lead in the ‘breaker to earn his first set point. A dogfight ensued between two of the hottest players of the year, during which both men saved two set points apiece. Nadal exhibited exemplary clarity of thought by hitting a stunning drop-shot winner at 10-10 to deliver a major blow to Wawrinka’s resilient effort. The Spaniard then sealed a titanic, 23-minute tiebreaker 12-10 to win the 75-minute opening set.
The second frame of play was anti-climatic. After wiping out two break points in his opening service game, Nadal was untouchable as he charged to an insurmountable 5-0 advantage. Soon after, the world No. 1’s sustained brilliance put an end to a jaded Wawrinka’s misery as Nadal clinched the second set 6-1 in just 32 minutues.
A high-quality affair ended with impressive statistics. Nadal finished with 27 winners to just 12 unforced errors, while Wawrinka recorded 28 winners and 23 errors. The Spaniard continued his stellar serving, as he did not lose his serve the entire match. He managed 72 percent first serves in and won 75 percent of those points.
“Very tough,” Nadal said of the opening set. “I think I played a great set. But the court is fast. His serve was huge. He came to the court with that determination to hit every ball by taking the ball earlier, hit the ball very quick; go for the big shots in every moment. So it was very difficult to stop him.”
Next up for the No. 2 seed in Saturday’s night session is the hard-hitting Juan Martin Del Potro.
highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo5ApGFAcY0]
anyone who missed that match can watch the highlights above..they are good highlights 😉