Rafael Nadal survived a second consecutive three-setter and recovered from a break down in another must-win set before getting the best of Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in round two of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Wednesday.
Nadal, who saw Lukas Rosol serve for the match on Monday only to prevail in a final-set tiebreaker, trailed Dimitrov 1-0 in the third in this one. But the seventh-ranked Spaniard eventually broke back for 2-2 and seized what proved to be decisive break at 4-3.
“It was a positive match,” Nadal assessed. “I won against a tough player, coming back from a break down in the third. That’s important for my confidence.”
Highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDHm7AaH9YQ]
Nadal on-court interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyOdL2yvKgI]
Although the draw remains strong from top to bottom, the No. 3 seed may have a potential semifinal roadblock cleared. Second-seeded Stan Wawrinka could not hold onto a set a break lead against Ivo Karlovic, ultimately going down 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4. Karlovic fired 21 aces and completed his comeback victory in one hour and 48 minutes.
“In the beginning, it was difficult,” said the 6’11” Croat. “He was hitting his shots. But I just tried to believe, to stay in the match, and hope I could turn it around. In the end, it happened.”
Highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgp6-3QosbQ]
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