Help
© Tennistalk.com
|
|
© Tennistalk.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/22/12 5:21 AM | Ricky Dimon
Rafael Nadal is the first man through to the quarterfinals in Melbourne, as he takes out Feliciano Lopez in straight sets on Sunday. Nadal awaits either Tomas Berdych or Nicolas Almagro.
Rafael Nadal rolled over countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday afternoon. Nadal committed only 14 unforced errors--38 fewer than Lopez--to dominate in two hours and 25 minutes.
Nadal took control right from the start, but he struggled to do so and he never completely put away his opponent in the first set. Saving eight of nine break points kept Lopez competitive, but Nadal converted his seventh chance of the match in the third game for an early 2-1 advantage. The world No. 2 served at 83 percent and dropped a mere four points in five service games to finish off the set in style.
Nadal's level dropped slightly in the second, but the result was the same. The second-seeded Spaniard broke immediately only to give it back with a poor service game at 2-1 that ended with a powerful return by his opponent. Lopez maintained the momentum by saving two break points in the following game, but he donated serve at 3-3 by netting a routine forehand volley. This time Nadal was not about to give it back, as he held his next two service games at love.
From there it was all over for Lopez. The underdog Spaniard dropped serve to open the third then watched a Nadal forehand go right by him on break point at 2-4. Melbourne's 2009 champion wrapped up the proceedings one game later with another routine hold.
"It's positive to keep winning in straight sets in these conditions," said Nadal, who will go up against either Tomas Berdych or Nicolas Almagro for a spot in the semis. "I did what I had to do to win the match in straight sets against a tough opponent."
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
Congrats for the win our Rafa. Hope you can step it up a gear going into the 2nd week. Vamos ..............
schatz , 1/22/12 2:28 PM
VAAMOS!!!
vrael , 1/22/12 2:30 PM
I hope Rafa ignores the hoopla surrounding Berdy and his match with Almagro, none of his business.
Concentrate, Rafa, and get to the semis!!!
Vamos!!
rafaisthebest , 1/23/12 8:18 AM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
That's exactly how I see it, as Rafa says, he did what he had to do against a tough opponent.
nadline , 1/22/12 2:05 PM